in place to deliver homes, some through deferred payment schemes, David concluded his presentation by stating that the HCA can help local authorities deliver their communities’ local priorities.


The afternoon’s second presentation – entitled “Investment for New Regeneration” was delivered by Jackie Sadek, Chief Executive of UK Regeneration. Jackie explained that she had been a senior executive, specialising in property regeneration in a major London practice, when the bottom fell out of the world of regeneration two years ago. Finding herself effectively out of work, Jackie formed UK Regeneration to exploit a niche market in up-market, high quality private rented accommodation, through new build schemes on infill sites of up to 5 acres in size in city centres. Jackie’s research had detected a latent demand from young professionals who wanted to live in such “caring sharing communities” without the burden of a mortgage around their necks, or as Jackie put it “Get a Life, not a mortgage!” Jackie’s infectious enthusiasm and passion for her niche market was almost certainly guaranteed to be rewarded with a successful first scheme at a site in Nottingham: apparently, the Methodist church next door to her site had prayed for the scheme’s success! [Editor – UK Regeneration’s “Framer” is featured in this Terrier].


Chris Thompson, founder and Managing Director of CITU, followed with his presentation entitled “Meeting the Challenge”. Chris opened with some interesting statistics on changing demographics: in 1900, 10% of the world’s population lived in cities; in 2007 it was 50% and in 2050 it is predicted to


THE TERRIER - Summer 2012


be 75%. This alone will be a challenge for city centre development. Chris gave a detailed account of his company’s award winning Greenhouse project, a former hostel built in the 1930s and never considered to be the prettiest building in Leeds. CITU purchased the site in 2007 after the building had been empty for ten years and commenced a sustainable, low carbon refurbishment scheme, retaining the external shell and adding two floors. Solar thermal panels, separate water systems, ground source pumps and wind turbines were all incorporated into the scheme to give it its low carbon rating. The result on completion in September 2010 was 166 energy efficient homes, with a 60% reduction in energy bills, 15,000 sq ft of offices - and 30 awards. To date, CITU’s follow up projects include Munro House, also in Leeds, former auto trader’s offices, being converted into 36,000 sq ft of studios, art galleries and event space, and Kelham Island in Sheffield, an ambitious zero carbon mixed use village on a 4 acre cleared site.


The mid-afternoon slot was taken by Caroline Blackburn, the Corporate Property Officer for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, whose presentation was entitled “Regeneration –v- Investment”. Caroline gave us an insight into the Regeneration Masterplan for her borough, drawn up in 2010 to create 14,617 new jobs, 610 new businesses, and 7,000 new homes, through an injection of private investment of £ 7 billion. Major regeneration projects within her borough include Redcar Seafront, a vertical pier; The Hub, to attract creative industries and the media, MyPlace, for 13 to 19 year olds, and Redcar Leisure and Community Heart,


a wet and dry leisure and civic centre. Caroline then invited delegates to share in a conundrum – of how to make regeneration projects work by securing investment when cost greatly exceeds value. In the example Caroline had in mind, an Eco Village, the scheme had to be mothballed until the market picked up. The wait could be a long one.


The final speaker for the day was Dr Paul Greenhalgh, Reader in Property Economics at the University of Northumbria, whose presentation was entitled “Secondary Property (Economic Factors)”. Paul is a founding member of URBaNE, a multidisciplinary group of academics and practitioners who carry out research for external clients and offer consultancy services in regeneration and renewal. Paul introduced his university, which has 4,000 students from 80 nationalities, working on 21 undergraduate courses and 50 post graduate courses. The total includes 50 PhD students. One of Paul’s current projects is to determine the impact of vacant office buildings on town and city centres in the UK. He explained that he was seeking assistance from ACES members for this study and in addition Northumbria was offering a PhD placement, to start in summer 2012.


Day 1 of the conference concluded and the evening reception at Cannon Hall marked the end of a very worthwhile and enjoyable day [featured in the article on the Conference’s Social Programme].


Day 2 of the conference started with Kerry Thompson, Co-founder and Executive Director of Inventa Partners Ltd, whose topic was “A Winning Carbon Strategy”. Kerry outlined


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