26 property Towns showcase
£250m+ developments The Thames Valley Towns of Reading, Slough and Bracknell present major new development plans worth more than £250m at the Thames Valley Property Forum on September 12 at Ascot Racecourse
The presentations will reflect the scope and ambition of the Region to grow and invest in major news schemes which will provide commercial, retail and residential space fit for companies and residents working and living in the Thames Valley region.
Keynotes include exclusive presentations about Station Hill, previously Friars Walk Shopping Centre, which is adjacent to the recently re-built Reading Station and being developed by Sackville Developments Reading (SDRL), a joint venture between Stanhope plc and Benson Elliot. The scheme will be one of the largest mixed- use schemes to be constructed in the UK and will really add value to the Reading Central Business District. This will be complemented by the publication
at the conference of the Reading Development and Investment Review 2013 by Hicks Baker.
Development Securities is also launching a major new office scheme at Brunel Place next to Slough train station which is due to start in the next six months. Investor and developer for the project, Development Securities will lead the session with Sheppard Robson looking at the transport links in the region and connectivity to West London.
Bracknell Regeneration Partnership will showcase with its funders, Legal & General Life Fund and Schroeders Exempt Property Unit Trust, additional information about plans for Bracknell town centre regeneration. After a few false starts over the years, the
project is now moving ahead at pace. Other topics include the exploration of the Thames Valley as Super European Region and the implications for business led by Peter Brett Associates and Barton Willmore.
Confirmed sponsors include Heathrow Airport Holdings, SEGRO plc (developers and owner-manager of industrial and offices units), SDRL (the developers of the old Friars Walk in Reading previously called Station Hill), ISG plc (fit-out and refurbishment specialists), Rickerbys LLP (lawyers and commercial legal advisers), Peter Brett Associates (development and infrastructure consultants) and Barton Willmore (planning, design and delivery of planning).
National Planning Policy Framework
(NPPF) – one year on The NPPF has been with us for one year – but has it achieved what it set out to deliver? writes David Ramsay, associate, planning consultancy, Vail Williams LLP
Received with mixed views across the development world and even more polarised views in the press, it has been interesting to see how the advent of the NPPF has impacted development.
Planning professionals and developers alike seemed to welcome the significant reduction of government guidance. In particular the status of out-of-date local plans and the imperative to provide a five-year housing land supply was greeted with open arms and these are now beginning to bear fruit in the delivery of planning consents both locally and at appeal.
We have already seen a number of appeal decisions issued under the guidance of the NPPF. The balance of judgement has been swayed positively by the need to support economic growth and
www.businessmag.co.uk
halt dwindling housing numbers against a background of aging local plans and the revocation of the regional spatial strategies.
While we operate a plan-led planning system, for the time being at least, the NPPF takes precedence. Local plans and localism only really work where plans are realistic and positive in their intent towards development. Although over 70% of councils have at least a published draft development plan, just fewer than 7% (23 LPAs) currently have an NPPF- compliant plan.
A number of high-profile core strategies have fallen foul of the requirement to provide a robust analysis of housing land supply to support the proposed housing targets or risk definitive intervention from inspectors.
Many more have been delayed while officers and members get to grips with plan making. This is undoubtedly a growing trend.
There is a policy vacuum at the local level which will remain until councils get to grips with the NPPF and put NPPF-compliant local policies in place. To the developers’ advantage, there is a limited ‘window of opportunity’ to progress developments, particularly where local councils have been tardy in updating local plans and housing targets and in a number of areas, developments are being received by councils with a more positive mind-set. Sites which previously stalled due to NIMBYism or active opposition are being viewed in a new light as councils are forced to reassess their planning credentials. Even previously ‘untouchable’ sites in the green belt areas have seen a slight ‘loosening’ of control, particularly on brownfield sites, even to the extent that government is actively considering a land swap in suitable circumstances.
Partners include Estates Gazette (the largest UK subscription weekly in the property sector) Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, University of Reading, Reading Post and The Business Magazine.
For booking access www.
ukpropertyforums.com and click on Thames Valley for Delegate Bookings, Exhibition Details and Sponsorship Opportunities or email: info@battle-associaties.
co.uk
Details: Matthew Battle 07768-377172 Twitter: @tvpf
The NPPF is by far the most positive of the recent planning reforms, but it remains to be seen whether councils will fully embrace the document. It will be up to the Planning Inspectorate to ensure councils continue to identify realistic housing and development targets and that the spirit of NPPF policy is upheld in planning decisions.
Details: David Ramsay 07775-862913
dramsay@vailwilliams.com www.vailwilliams.com
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – MAY 2013
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68