All News

Brownfield review: Halton | Wirral | Fife | Hounslow | Newcastle Locked

Police among the critics of Halton decision, as laughter greets Leverhulme statement, relief for Inland Homes, two important Yorkshire sites proceed, as Newcastle seeks funding partner

UK

30,000 to get pay-out in PFAS settlement Locked

The lawsuit was over firefighting foam, which contaminated water tables at seven sites

UK

SEGRO commits to £2bn in WMCA plan Locked

In total, SEGRO will aim to deliver 13.5m sq ft of tech-enabled logistics facilities with a mix of warehousing types as well as purpose-built space for research and development and light manufacturing

UK

Labour to reform the planning system and allow green belt building Locked

Kier Starmer says Labour will also bring back local housing targets, streamline the process for national infrastructure projects and commercial development

UK

Network Rail enters partnership to develop its land-holdings Locked

The Partnership, involving IJM Land Berhad, is currently considering sites in Central London and the southeast which can be developed into mixed-use schemes, residential, commercial or logistics properties

UK

Homes England’s mission to unify housing and regeneration Locked

The new five-year plan is a call to arms for the entire housing and regeneration sector with the focus on sustainability, decency, design and affordability and equality

UK

Groundsure launches brownfield site viability tool Locked

Basically, it is an instant read out on issues, how they compare to other sites, and the costs of abnormal ground conditions

UK

Evolving PFAS regulation is cause for client unrest Locked

Environment Analyst hosted an online event to discuss PFAS policy and practical solutions in light of proposed new regulations and standards.

Europe, Global

HSE PFAS RMOA offers way forward but outlines serious gaps Locked

HSE says application of the arrowhead approach to grouping PFAS and drawing conclusions on hazards that encompass both precursor substances and their final degradation products is currently a common way of assessing PFAS

UK

Brownfield finance: Countryside | Wain Estates | Galliard | Tameside | Keighley Locked

Countryside buy two plots in Oldham, as Wain Estates progresses with Carrington Gateway, Aspley House Capital and Galliard Homes to develop a Birmingham Build-to-Rent scheme and Tameside and Keighley councils award funding

UK

Housebuilders deferring land payments Locked

The major housebuilders are showing more caution, but some SME’s are cutting margins for land and taking advantage, as brownfield land values fall 4.6% in first quarter

UK

Brownfield review: Sterling | Manchester | | Birmingham | Bromsgrove Locked

PM asked to intervene in Sterling contamination issue, as Manchester campaign groups complain of watered down masterplan, and Birmingham City Council agrees to three important developments

UK

Local elections see housing battle-lines sharpened Locked

Labour housing policy emerging in piecemeal fashion but it would re-instate mandatory targets, while the Conservative position appears divided

UK

Homes England announces suppliers for Technical Services Framework Locked

The new Technical Services Contract is in two lots, one for end-to-end technical and professional services and the other for placemaking, master planning and design

UK

Defra clarifies additionality in relation to BNG Locked

Off-site mitigation and compensation for protected sites and species may count towards BNG, but at least 10% of BNG has to be through other activities

UK

NHBC discusses the importance of early engagement

Karen Thornton, Land Quality Services Manager at NHBC discusses the importance of site assessment at the pre-development stage and practical remediation of issues across all types of sites including brownfield, geotechnically challenging, and marginal sites.

UK

Climate change and contaminated land: still early days Locked

This Brownfield & Regeneration Network panel discussion, supported by SiLC, brought together speakers involved in on-going industry research and published guidance to consider the impact of climate change on contaminated land risk assessment, remediation and development, looking at how much progress has been made and highlighting challenges moving forward.

UK

PfP Capital and Housing Growth Partnership launch jv Locked

It will focus on developing individually designed urban communities, across an initial 10 major UK regional city sites, over the next 3-5 years

UK

Government amends BNG metric Locked

The change guards against enhancement of off-site habitat that is already moderate to high quality isn’t disincentivised and the further away the offsite gain is to the development, the more biodiversity units are required

UK

Cornwall rejects mayor plan leading to calls for Assembly Locked

The council is pursuing a Level 2 deal which is not contingent on how Cornwall is run, but there is support for an Assembly similar to the devolved administrations

UK

Developers argue deliverability flaws in Wirral draft plan Locked

A group of developers is challenging the assumptions on land supply in Wirral's draft local plan, as the inspection process gets underway

UK

Brownfield business: Knight Frank | BXB Cowley Hill | Apache Capital | Placefirst Locked

Chelmsford CIty Council wants a waterside developer as Silbury Finance invests again, large St. Helen's brownfield on the market as Apache Capital backs Moda Living again, while Sunderland Council appoints Placefirst

UK

Gove says housing market is broken, as think-tank releases solutions Locked

Recommendations include revival of a body like English Partnerships, which would "drive commercial value, accelerate economic recovery and lead to more affordable housing"

UK

Brouhaha over outstanding contaminated land condition Locked

It has emerged that residents in a new estate near Crewe are living in properties without proper planning permission and the council is taking its own assessment of any potential contamination and threat to health before new permission is granted

UK

Regeneration boost for Greater Manchester and West Midlands Locked

Greater Manchester has secured £150m of brownfield funding in the Deeper Devolution Deal announced by the government, and the West Midlands Combined Authority says the housing deal is worth up to £500m, offering greater flexibility to drive brownfield regeneration and affordable housing.

UK

MIPIM part II: short term pain for probable gain Locked

Insights from conversations at MIPIM focusing on the UK regions indicate that 2023 will be a challenging year, but there are positive signs for 2024, reports Ian Grant.

UK

Message from MIPIM: go green quick or risk stranded assets Locked

The 2023 world property event MIPIM, held in Cannes in March, had a net zero and ESG focus — clouded by the dark shadow of stranded assets, reports Ian Grant.

UK

EIA reforms to be based on ‘reducing legal challenge’ Locked

The government expects the new environmental outcomes reports to be concise, accessible to non-specialists and legally bullet-proof.

UK

LGA urges clean-up to release 20,000 new homes/yr Locked

The LGA says immediate steps could include improving the water efficiency of homes, targeted agricultural upgrades and improving wastewater treatment works.

UK

MIPIM launches: Derby | Stoke | Leicester | St. Modwen | Atenor Locked

Plenty of opportunities in Derby and surrounds, as Homes England partners with Stoke for 3000 homes, while a space cluster launched in Leicester, and development announcements from Atenor, St. Modwen and Telford Homes

UK