Housing and regeneration: Meeting the delivery challenge
Our latest Bulletin is now available.
Click here to download
The housing, regeneration and planning landscape in the UK is changing fast. National housing targets have been dropped. Regional Spatial Strategies (RSSs) that have until now determined the level of new homes needed in an area have been revoked. Public funding for affordable housing and regeneration is set to decrease dramatically, with bodies such as the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) expected to play a ‘leaner' enabling role. Market conditions also continue to create major challenges for delivery.
Key Points
- Now more than ever local authorities and their partners need to work together to continue to deliver housing and regeneration
- Whilst there are major challenges for delivery, innovative solutions can be found if local authorities work collaboratively with partners, embrace new funding mechanisms and income sources, and use public sector land and assets more creatively to lever investment
- Full alignment of public sector capital investment programmes is needed to maximise private investment and drive housing development and regeneration
- Opportunities for stronger community engagement, retrofitting and the development of new housing sectors can help address delivery challenges
BBP Appionted to Prepare Delivery Framework for Ashford's Southern Expansion Quarter
Ashford's Future has commissioned a consultant team led by BBP Regeneration including LDA Design, Campbell Reith and Shared Intelligence to prepare a Delivery Framework for Ashford's Southern Expansion Quarter (SEQ).
Ashford has a vision to create a vibrant, sustainable town for residents and business with an ambitious £2.5 billion development strategy which will see the town benefit from 28,000 new jobs and 31,000 new homes.
The SEQ is will play an important part in these growth plans and is situated just south of the existing town centre and in close proximity to Ashford International Station.
The area includes Victoria Way, a new road linking the station to south Ashford, which will open up investment opportunities and improve travel choices. Work began in spring 2010, funded through £16.5m Community Infrastructure Funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government and Department for Transport and is due for completion in spring 2011.
The major sites within the SEQ are currently under-utilised with a number of disparate land parcels.
The purpose of the Delivery Framework is to therefore identify a clear implementation strategy for the comprehensive development of the SEQ, to ensure early economic redevelopment of the area, and to provide an evidence base to support policy which will be used as material consideration for future planning applications.
The Framework has an important role to play in setting a clear vision for the area, enhancing delivery certainty amongst key stakeholders, facilitating public sector and other inward investment, providing guidance to Ashford Borough Council for the preparation of policy and a framework against which planning applications can be assessed. The Delivery Framework will therefore be an important tool to promote and guide development of the SEQ in forthcoming years.
The project will assess the viability of a range of potential development options for the SEQ area, and the practical steps needed to bring forward development along with a range of supporting infrastructure. It will examine the market potential, site planning issues and the position of landowners and other stakeholders with an interest in the future of this area. As such ongoing liaison with both public and private sector stakeholders will be important, to help develop a comprehensive "buy-in" of a holistic regeneration strategy. The Framework will set out recommendations for a viable preferred development option that will seek to balance competing demands, but will ultimately strive to raise the bar in terms of urban design, sustainability and values.
June 2010
BBP appointed to the Homes and Communities Agency's Property Panel
BBP Regeneration have been appointed to the Homes and Communities Agency's (HCA) Property Consultancy Panel as part of Lambert Smith Hampton's team. This panel can also be used by the HCA's partners and will provide a range of property services, including Property Consultancy, Agency, Estate Management, Investment Advice and Lead Consultancy. BBP Regeneration will provide the following specialist advice;
• Housing delivery strategies sustainable development
• Financial and funding advice
• Commercial advice
• Delivery options and investment portfolios
• Delivery models and public private partnerships
• Investment advise relating to housing and or mixed use schemes
Our appointment to the panel confirms the quality of work carried out for the HCA to date.
June 2010
BBP delighted to receive confirmation of central Government funding for the Homes & Roads Programme
BBP Regeneration was delighted to receive confirmation of central Government funding for the ‘Homes & Roads' Programme in Kent Thameside, North Kent.
BBP was initially appointed by Kent County Council to prepare a Green Book Economic Appraisal for the Programme, involving 11 transport infrastructure projects totaling £200 million. Together these will aid delivery of 25,000 new homes and 50,000 new jobs in Kent Thameside.
BBP investigated the rationale and strategic need for the Programme, constructed a detailed cashflow model to test its viability and undertook value-for-money analysis. Having initially presented our recommendations in 2008, we were asked to update the Green Book report in Autumn 2009 to take into account changes in the wider economy. Recently BBP have been central in successfully responding to a series of detailed queries by HM Treasury, resulting in Secretary of State for CLG, John Denham, confirming funding support of £23 million in March 2010.
April 2010
BBP Bulletin: Self-financing regeneration? The case for TIF Our latest Bulletin on financing regeneration through innovative models such as TIF is now available.
Click here to download.
The impact of the recession has been dramatic, resulting in long awaited projects being shelved or cancelled. In response, there have been calls for a different approach to regeneration, accepting that the private sector will have limited capacity to carry the risks it has in the past.
This presents the opportunity to develop more sustainable approaches to regeneration and encourage longer term thinking, and most of all for local authorities to use their resources differently to attract investment and deliver projects.
Key Points
- The recession has brought an end to the long boom in property investment that took place during the last decade and which has underpinned our approach to regeneration.
- Cuts to government spending will result in less funding for the infrastructure that is needed to improve the viability of marginal development sites.
- Tax increment financing (TIF) offers a way for the future value of a scheme to be used to help provide the upfront investment needed to develop a site.
- With a considered approach, local authorities and delivery vehicles working together could use their assets and ability to borrow prudentially to drive forward regeneration and economic growth for their communities.
March 2010
BBP assess the economic impact of Luton's Capital Infrastructure Programme With Shared Intelligence, BBP Regeneration has been appointed to prepare an Economic Impact Assessment for the £532 million Luton Capital Infrastructure Programme.
This encompasses a Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative together with a wide range of additional community improvements including health, youth and library services, an Aquatic Centre and a social housing investment programme. SI and BBP will evaluate the direct and indirect impacts on economic prosperity and social well being.
February 2010
BBP advise on Vauxhall, Nine Elms & Battersea governance arrangements BBP has been appointed by the London Borough of Wandsworth to advise on governance arrangements to oversee the implementation of plans for the Vauxhall, Nine Elms and Battersea Opportunity Area (VNEB OA). Dominated by the iconic Battersea Power Station, the world's biggest brick building, this is the last remaining section of undeveloped riverbank in central London.
The VNEB OA covers an area of 195 hectares on the south bank of the River Thames which runs from Lambeth Bridge in the north to Chelsea Bridge in the south west including Vauxhall Cross and Albert Embankment. Plans for the area include 16,000 new homes and a range of 20,000 - 25,000 jobs.
Our Brief is to agree and then promote to other partners and stakeholders suitable governance arrangements for Nine Elms, considering options for governance structures and preparing an ‘action plan'. The tasks involve reviewing policy, considering the infrastructure requirements, reviewing governance models from elsewhere, holding discussions with key landowners and other key stakeholders
February 2010
Recent Commissions Supporting the Evidence Base for the HCA London Business PlanWe have been appointed from the HCA Economic Consultants panel to conduct a piece of work to inform the evidence base for the HCA London Region's submission to the HCA Corporate Plan and London Region Investment Plan for 2010-2014.
Thames Gateway Evidenced Based Housing Scenarios
Also from the HCA Economic Consultants panel we have been appointed to Develop Evidence-Based Housing Scenarios for the Thames Gateway. The commission represents an extension of the work completed for the London Thames Gateway on behalf of the HCA in the summer of 2009.
January 2010
BBP undertake evaluation of HCA Single Conversation process The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has commissioned BBP Regeneration and Colin Warnock Associates in association with Shared Intelligence to undertake an interim evaluation of its Single Conversation business process - a new way of working which has been developed to coordinate discussion and make better use of funding streams. The evaluation will provide valuable feedback from local authorities and their partners on their experiences of the process to date and help the HCA refine its approach to delivering the Single Conversation. Given the process is at an early stage in many parts of the country, the evaluation provides a timely opportunity to examine experiences so far and inform future Single Conversations.
January 2010
Retrofitting Homes for Sustainability Our latest Bulletin on retrofitting homes to improve environmental sustainability is now available. Click here to download the Bulletin.
Retrofitting homes to be more environmentally sustainable is identified as a policy priority both in the UK and Europe. The retrofit process provides the opportunity to combine community based regeneration, with skills and training initiatives, and the achievement of higher environmental standards.
Key Points There are clear environmental and social benefits in retrofitting homes to make energy savings and tackle fuel poverty
Whilst the primary driver for retrofitting is to deliver improved environmental performance, it also provides an excellent opportunity to engage with communities, promoting shared learning and providing skills and employment benefits
Funding for retrofit is available from a range of UK and European sources and programmes. Securing funding is however highly competitive, and the challenge for local authorities and their partners is to prepare robust and implementable retrofit programmes that can benefit from these resources
To deliver significant energy savings a bespoke package of retrofitting measures, tailored to local communities’ needs and aspirations, and particular types of residential properties, is required
Retrofit programmes need to be easily replicated and rolled out across the UK to provide the impact necessary to cut carbon emissions significantly over the next 40 years.
September 2009
Transmanche Metro impact assessment to be carried out by BBP BBP Regeneration has been appointed by SEEDA to prepare a preliminary economic impact assessment of the Transmanche Metro - a proposal to extend high speed ‘cross channel' rail services between stations in the South East of England and Northern France. In October 2008 ERDF Funding to provide a detailed feasibility study of the Transmanche Metro proposals was awarded, and this commission will consider the potential economic impacts to be investigated. Working with Colin Warnock Associates, Cambridge Econometrics and Peter Brett Associates, the work will assess the range of economic benefits that such a scheme could have on the region, including tourism, new business creation, agglomeration impacts, education links, and firms operating internationally.
August 2009
BBP prepare economic appraisal to secure funding for Creative Industries Quarter in Barking The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) has commissioned BBP Regeneration to prepare an extended economic appraisal for investment in the Barking Creative Industries Quarter. Following an earlier appraisal prepared by BBP in 2008, funding for site assembly and preparation works was endorsed by CLG, these works have now commenced. The revised appraisal will consider amendments to the original scheme and new opportunities identified by LTGDC to ensure the project delivers comprehensive regeneration. In particular, BBP is providing financial and options analysis which considers the viability of the project in light of the challenging market conditions.
August 2009
BBP appointed to prepare agreement for Aylesbury Vale Advantage BBP Regeneration was recently appointed to prepare a Memorandum of Agreement and Understanding (MoAU) between Aylesbury Vale Advantage (AVA) and local planning authorities. The MoAU will confirm how AVA will work with partners in support of agreed regeneration objectives. BBP has drawn on its extensive experience of large regeneration projects in this commission, working closely with stakeholders and partners to develop the document. It is proposed that the completed MoAU will serve as a template that could be rolled out across the Milton Keynes South Midlands sub-region and potentially to other Local Delivery Vehicles across the country.
August 2009
BBP appraise education-led regeneration initiative in West Sussex BBP has been appointed to advise SEEDA on their proposed investment in the University of Chichester's Bognor Regis Campus. The project forms part of a wider £40 million initiative involving the University, HEFCE and other partners to redevelop the campus and offer more education and business services - specific proposals include the development of a School of Enterprise, Management and Leadership (SEMAL) and provision of incubation space. The proposals aim to make education and training more accessible to local people and support business development in West Sussex. BBP is providing a range of economic appraisal advice including an options assessment, value for money analysis, and governance / management recommendations.
August 2009
BBP Appointed to SEEDA Economic Appraisal Panel BBP Regeneration have been re-appointed to SEEDA’s Economic Appraisal Panel. The panel will provide a range of economic appraisal services to SEEDA as required, including strategic fit, risk and value for money (VfM) analysis in addition to options appraisal and delivery recommendations across a range of high-profile, public sector projects.
BBP’s re-appointment to the panel confirms the quality of work carried out under the previous iteration of the contract. For more information on BBP’s Economic Appraisal experience, please click here.
April 2009
Rebooting Regional Markets In March 2009 directors Rob Bennett and Colin Ross attended MIPIM along with our non-executive director, Mike Appleton. At MIPIM they presented a short paper about reviving property development and investment through public/private partnerships and how the public sector can help private sector developers deliver in the current market. To download the document click here.
April 2009
Bulletin: Regional Policy and the Single Conversation BBP’s latest Bulletin on the impact of the Government’s regional policy agenda and the HCA’s Single Conversation approach is now available. The Bulletin examines the proposals of the Sub-National Review, its emphasis on devolving power to the regions and the movement towards Multi-Area Agreements (MAAs) and Integrated Regional Strategies (IRS). The Bulletin also discusses the HCA’s new Single Conversation approach, the effects this will have on Local Authorities and how BBP is assisting Local Authorities and the HCA nationwide to help facilitate this new method of working. Click here to download the Bulletin.
March 2009
BBP Regeneration attends MIPIM 2009 Rob Bennett, Mike Appleton and Colin Ross will be attending MIPIM from 10-13 March 2009.
We will be hosting a series of events bringing together leading public sector bodies to discuss the challenges of delivering regeneration and socio-economic change in challenging economic conditions.
We will also be presenting the partnership opportunities between public sector organizations and private sector developers/investors, to facilitate development and recover land asset value.
Based at the London Club (Stand RSV.01) and a centrally located apartment in Cannes, we’d be delighted to hear from clients and contacts who are also attending.
If you are interested in meeting, please e-mail cross@bbpregeneration.co.uk or contact him on +44 7951 20 40 25
March 2009 BBP Appoints New Economic Development Team to Expand its Services BBP has formed a new team to take forward its Economic Development consultancy practice and expand the company's range of services.
In addition to contributing to existing areas of expertise such as economic appraisals and evaluations, the team will undertake econommic analysis and scoping studies, economic and employment strategies, key sector identification and analysis, business growth and inward investment studies, and economic impact assesments. For further information please click here.
February 2009
BBP Regeneration Launches Office for the North of England In response to a rise in work from public sector agencies in the areas of forward investment plannning, appraisal methods and partnership structures, BBP has opened an office in Manchester to serve the three Northern economic regions.
The office is also seen as the platform for developing closer working links with the private sector. Currently, Developers and investors are facing a rapidly changing market and a dynamically changing public sector. One of our key aspirations is to bring these parties together in effective structures to help projects progress, using ppublic sector support in innovative ways. For more information please click here.
January 2009
BBP Appoints Professional Staff as Part of Business Development Plan BBP Regeneration continues to expand both the range and depth of services on property and economic development. Following planned growth and responding to an increased workload, we have made two appointments on the property and development management sides of the business.
Andy Smith has been appointed as a Senior Surveyor in our London Office. Andy is a specialist in financial analysis and development management and joins from Berkeley Commercial with previous residential experience at Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, whilst Robbie Landsburgh has joined our London office as an Assistant Surveyor. For further information please click here.
December 2008
Bulletin: Regeneration and the Credit Crunch Our latest Bulletin on the impact of the Credit Crunch on regeneration is now available. The Bulletin sets out our thoughts on the likely effects of a slow down based on experience of previous downturns and recessions and discusses how private and public sectors can respond to difficult economic conditions, keeping regeneration projects on track. Click here to download the Bulletin.
September 2008
BBP Strengthens its NW Presence Mike Appleton has joined forces with BBP Regeneration. Operating from a Manchester base Mike will bring a wealth of experience delivering major regeneration projects and programmes gained from high profile positions in both the public and private sectors.
The move forms part of BBP's plans to expand its property development and regeneration consultancy and for the first time, provide a base in the North West. Previously Mike had set up and managed Cibitas Investments, a major force in the regeneration business with shareholders ING Real Estate and Stanhope PLC, and CP Holdings. Prior to that, from 2000-2003, Mike held the post of Director of Regeneration, Planning and Greenwich at English Partnerships, and was responsible for a range of regeneration initiatives including the provision of major infrastructure to facilitate the growth of New Towns, the Millennium Village initiative and Urban Regeneration Companies. He also led the Government's negotiations for the sale of the Millennium Dome and Greenwich Peninsula. Between 1997-2000, Mike held the post of Corporate Director at Amec Developments Ltd and between 1993-1996, he was the Managing Director (Developments) at English Partnerships.
March 2008
BBP Expands its Range of Housing Related Services BBP is pleased to announce a strategic alliance with the Housing & Regeneration Consultancy Graham Maunders Associates Ltd. Graham Maunders, the former Chief Executive of eb4u, the highly successful Brighton New Deal for Communities (NDC) programme, has considerable experience in housing management, stock transfer and neighbourhood renewal projects.
Stephen Pritchard, Director of BBP, commented: " Graham's skill set and experience of housing renewal and management is highly complementary with our skills in physical regeneration. BBP and GMA now provide combined housing and regeneration services ranging from strategic planning, to unlocking development opportunities, to structuring delivery arrangements, through to ongoing delivery, management and governance."
Graham Maunders has a depth of practical experience in housing & regeneration management from holding a number of senior management positions. From May 2006 he has been working as a housing and regeneration consultant on housing management, stock transfer and neighbourhood renewal projects. Previously he worked for a number of local authorities, and two major Housing Associations (Hanover and London & Quadrant), covering a range of functions including property management, governance, maintenance, development, regeneration and community development. In 1995 he was seconded into Regulation at the Housing Corporation; followed by 5 years as Investment Planning Manager for Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
March 2008
Bulletin: New Growth Points and Eco Towns Our latest Bulletin on New Growth Points and Eco Towns is now available. The Bulletin discusses these new Government initiatives and looks at the key concerns which must be addressed in developing deliverable new urban settlements under these plans and provides case studies which demonstrate how we are helping to develop the strategy for the development of a substantial new settlement at Shoreham by Sea on the Sussex coast. Click here to download the Bulletin.
January 2008
BBP Bulletins We produce regular Bulletins on a range of economic development and regeneration issues. Download past Bulletins by clicking on the links below.
Rebooting Regional Markets
In March 2009 directors Rob Bennett and Colin Ross attended MIPIM along with our non-executive director, Mike Appleton. At MIPIM they presented a short paper on how the public sector can help private sector developers deliver in the current market. To download the document, click on the link below.
Scandinavia Study Tour
BBP Regeneration, with LDA Design and Colin Warnock Associates, led a study tour of Denmark and Sweden to identify lessons that could be applied to regeneration projects in the UK. Please click below to read our briefing paper:
Key Themes for the Thames GatewayThere are many individual challenges in the Thames Gateway, but one of the key themes which goes to the heart of the Vision is the creation, fostering and growth of balanced communities. As part of an integrated offer in conjunction with SQW, Cambridge Econometrics and Oxford Innovation, we produced short papers exploring three of the main aspects of the Thames Gateway Delivery Challenge: Economic Development, Housing Development and Building Communities. Click below for printable versions of these papers, together with the over-arching cover paper:
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