News analysis
BPF wants wider definition of ‘brownfield presumption’
The British Property Federation wants the brownfield presumption to capture a wider range of development which takes place in an urban setting including mixed use commercial development.
Stoke-on-Trent Council sell shares in regen company
The Labour led council says the £5m it received is good value, but the Conservatives say the council should have retained the land or demanded a covenant.
HBF says changes to NPPF need reassessment
In a critique of the influential 2004 Barker report on housing supply, HBF says there has been limited progress over 20 years with only 11 of the 36 recommendations currently implemented in full.
Business: Mapletree | McAteer & Rushe | Knighthead Capital | Blackstone
Mapletree in £1bn student accommodation deal, as McAteer & Rushe get construction contract, Knighthead Capital and Birmingham FC buy 48-acre site for Sports Quarter and Blackstone buys the former Britishvolt site to create data centre.
Brownfield review: Wolverhampton | Wirral | Dudley | Leeds | Worthing
Four teams selected for iconic Wolverhampton brownfield, while Wirral Council given nature grant to stop flooding, Future High Street Living buys ex-industrial site, Caddick gets approval for mixed use on Leeds South Bank and Homes England unlocks regeneration potential in Worthing
Renewables and energy storage on brownfields rising
Several applications and studies for renewable energy systems and storage on brownfields and landfills reveal an increasing underlying trend
Vapour intrusion mystery investigated
Campbell Reith (CR) was faced with investigating a potential Part 2a site involving vapours from a chlorinated solvent plume which had migrated off site beneath existing residential buildings in complex geology. In this webinar, CR partner Simon Burr explains the techniques used from multi-level boreholes to in-house vapour monitoring and how the communication strategy was vital in gaining access to the homes.
MIPIM: key regeneration launches
The property and developer event MIPIM (le marché international des professionnels de l'immobilier) concentrated on quality above quantity this year and there were important regional regeneration launches. Ian Grant reports
Government intervenes in London housing market
The government says the rate of housing delivery in London needs to increase from an average of 37,200 homes/yr to 62,300/yr to meet the targets set out in the London Plan
Landfill tax rise – a double edged sword
Critics of the tax rise say by failing to take the uses of inactive soils into account, the government has overlooked something which may support its environmental objectives, while supporters say it will encourage individuals and organisations to consider more sustainable ways of disposing of their waste
Landfill tax policy needs urgent reform, says Localis
The report says that an unintended consequence of setting the landfill tax at a prohibitive level, with a large differential between the higher and lower rate, is the escalation of waste crime, particularly in the form of illegal dumping or fly-tipping
Access to urban green space – top in poll
The main reason for people wanting to leave the city was lack of access to green space
Lincolnshire goes for devolution as Suffolk consults
The Lincolnshire deal brings in £24m/yr but there has been some controversy on the numbers
GLA-owned developer likely to happen
The aim of the body will be to fill the gaps where a council or a housing association or a developer may not take forward a scheme that maybe City Hall can.
Budget: Multiple announcements but disappointment prevailing reaction
Twenty towns get £20m and plans for Investment Zones for Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, Northeast of England, South Yorkshire, and West Midlands laid out
Brownfield review: WMCA | Ferrybridge | Bermondsey | Wirral | Teesside
West Midlands Combined Authority earmarks £200m for 12,000 homes , as Ferrybridge C set to become industrial zone, Southwark agrees 1624 Bermondsey homes, VIVIV acquires gateway site in Portsmouth, Wirral told to alter local plan and Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen asked for progress report
Landfill stink reaches higher echelons
A long running odour problem at a site in Bury has come to ahead - being raised in Parliament with weekly site visits from the Environment Agency installation of new gas wells, and an expansion of capping to contain the gas and odours
Water credits market being created to unblock development
The government is creating a water credit system to help unblock restrictions on building in the Greater Cambridge area due to water stress and limited supplies
Michael Gove gives over £200m to northern cities
Blackpool gets £90m, Liverpool £31m, Sheffield £67m and Blackburn and Darwen £20m
BUSINESS: Gresham House | United Living | Watkin Jones and Hines | ABP
Gresham House agrees loan for Leeds BTR site, United Living awarded £75m contract for two Manchester blocks, Watkin Jones forward sells a 260 PBSA in Bristol, while ABP announces ports appointment
Government clamps down on planning time agreement extensions
For major applications – 50% or more of applications must be determined within the statutory time limit and for non-major applications – 60% or more of applications have to be determined within the statutory time limit.
Government proposes Accelerated Planning Service
It is proposed for major commercial applications with a guarantee that the fee would be refunded if the application is not determined within the ten week timescale.
Kate Barker to head up Housing Commission
The Commission will look at how to free up more land for development and the role of specialist housing, which will look into accommodation for students and older people and approaches to sustainability and ensuring affordability
What are the foundations to your remediation?
Earthworks, or the use of engineered fill, is now a frequent activity as sites need to be prepared before house building can take place. In this Network event, speakers from NHBC’s Land Quality Service team explain the newly published addition to the NHBC’s Standards, Chapter 4.6 - Engineered Fill.
Housing market intervention necessary, says CMA
The Competition and Markets Authority finds land banking is primarily a symptom of wider problems in the market, mainly driven by the time and uncertainty associated with obtaining planning permission and it puts forward recommendations for reform
Business: Berkeley | Vistry | Re:Shape | Summix
Homes England gives £125m loan to Berkeley for infrastructure at three schemes, as Vistry enters into a partnership with Countryside Partnerships Group, Re:Shape acquires three sites for PBSA, as Summix buys a 15.5 acre site in Edinburgh
Guidance on BNG emphasises 10% limit
A key change from the November draft is in paragraph 006: “Plan-makers should not seek a higher percentage than the statutory objective of 10% biodiversity net gain, either on an area-wide basis or for specific allocations for development unless justified."
Contaminated land: Crewe | Powys | RSK | Geosmart | SoBRA | CL:AIRE
Contaminated land and election issue in Crewe, Powys County Council escapes enforcement, RSK launches UXO company, Geosmart Information grows, York University wins research contract on metal contamination, SoBRA updates asbestos tool, CL:AIRE publishes C4SL reports, and new ISO standard on XRF is published
Homes rejected over PM2.5 and cancer fears
The site was a nature corridor in Oldbury which residents think protects them from noise and air pollution from the nearby M5.
Green light for 700-home timber development
The site will use a 'co-mobility hub' including an electric car share, electric bike service and a shuttle bus ; a rain garden will reduce flood risk and the scheme has an urban farming and community garden strategy