40 commercial property
A joined-up approach towards Oxfordshire’s strategic growth
Planning within Oxfordshire is in a period of uncertainty. Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership published a Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) in March 2014 which set its plan for growth for the period up to 2031, writes Sarah Isherwood, graduate planner, Vail Williams LLP
There is an overarching theme of ‘Economic Growth through Innovation’ and an ‘Oxfordshire Knowledge Spine’ between Bicester, Oxford and Science Vale.
Whether this vision will be reached any time in the future is questionable. Out of the five Oxfordshire councils only one has a reasonably up-to-date local plan (Oxford City’s was adopted in 2011). The remaining councils are in the process of preparing their local plans with adoptions expected in 2015/16. A joint Oxfordshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment, (SHMA, March 2014) identifies that the housing needed for Oxfordshire is approximately 100,000, almost double the previous forecast.
Consequently councils have had to re-consult on their policy documents to address these issues, delaying the process even further. In addition, it has been announced that Oxford City Council does not have capacity to meet its housing requirement within the city’s administrative boundary and therefore this deficit will need to be met in neighbouring authorities.
Given that each Oxfordshire authority is at a different stage in its local policy production, along with the additional pressure of accommodating Oxford City’s land supply deficit, Vail Williams believe that a more holistic approach should be considered.
A common policy focusing on the growth of Oxfordshire’s ‘Knowledge
Dean Consulting launches as adviser to property sector
A new commercial property consultancy has been formed to provide strategic advice to property companies, public sector organisations and occupiers in central London, the Thames Valley and along the M3/A3 corridor.
Dean Consulting, set up by former SEGRO regional director Kate Dean (pictured), specialises in master planning, strategic leasing, branding and marketing, development advice, asset management and customer care.
Dean has formed the consultancy after gaining more than 10 years’ experience at SEGRO where she ran its office portfolio including the IQ business parks in Farnborough, Cambridge, Winnersh and Slough. She also worked on major industrial schemes in the Thames Valley and M3 and M23 corridors, including the Slough Trading Estate.
A board member of the Enterprise M3 LEP, Dean is also actively involved with the British Council for Offices
www.businessmag.co.uk
and the Association of Women in Property.
She commented: “Confidence is returning to the regional office and industrial market and our expertise in delivering and marketing large, high-profile schemes and managing the often-difficult period between completing a building and getting it income producing, is attracting strong interest from public and private sector organisations.”
Details:
www.deanconsulting.co.uk Is this the start of the Crossrail
surge for Maidenhead? remains, offering 5,300 sq ft with the added benefit of 26 car parking spaces.
When Cincom Systems UK sought to sub-let surplus ground, first and third-floor offices at 1 Grenfell Road (adjacent to Maidenhead railway station), property agent Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH) received a surprisingly high number of enquiries.
As a result of the interest, and Cincom’s flexibility over terms, The Juice PLUS+ Company, Bilfinger RE Asset Management and Tripwire have all signed up to occupy floor plates in the building on eight-year sub-leases. Only one suite now
Cliff Jackson, director for LSH, Maidenhead, explains: “This is an example of occupiers positioning themselves in a prime office location in time to benefit from Crossrail and Wrath rail infrastructure upgrades. With strong occupier demand and town centre rents set to exceed £30 per sq ft in 2015, it is no surprise that we are also receiving intense interest in Maidenhead from investors too.”
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – APRIL 2015
Spine’ could be a potential way forward. The policy could form an overarching, strategic vision for how the growth of these three areas can be developed sustainably and in a manner which would create an interconnected spine. As the policy would be at a level above local, it would also be comparable to documents such as the SEP and SHMA. This would allow recommendations to be better aligned with policy which can actually deliver results
across numerous authorities. Some may think of this as a step back as the regional planning was only removed in the south east three years ago. However there appears to be a disjointed approach to cross- boundary development projects and therefore in order to get close to achieving a ‘Knowledge Spine’ within Oxfordshire a far more collaborative approach should be considered. The only council which seemingly wishes to grab the duty-to-cooperate by the horns is Oxford City Council, which is reliant on the outlying councils to enable their needs to be met. Collaboration should be underpinned by a statutory policy to ensure that all levels in planning are fully aware of the overall goal for the area encouraging all parties to work proactively together.
For more information about Vail Williams LLP visit the website.
Details: Sarah Isherwood 07554-005585
sisherwood@vailwilliams.com www.vailwilliams.com
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