We led the team that secured outline planning consent for an International Visitor Destination (including all ancillary facilities) and Science Research Park in Bedford during 2006 over one year. The multi-disciplined team of planners, architects, engineers and transport, environmental and energy specialists prepared a planning application strategy and the outline planning application, including a Planning Statement, Design & Access Statement, Environmental Statement, Transport Assessment and Travel Plan Statement, Energy Statement and the Report of Community Involvement. The local planning authority were minded to approve the application in October 2007, but complex S106 negotiations have delayed formal approval. However, the S106 was signed and outline planning consent granted on 23 September 2009, which enabled the project to move forward to its financing and implementation stage.
The 90ha application site was a brick-making clay pit south of Bedford, with an associated Bus Shuttle Park located on a separate 30ha landfill site. Key issues included alternative strategic sites assessment, complex and onerous site history, scale and type of development, planning policy compliance and promoting benefits of the proposed development.
BSkyB Headquarters
We led the team that secured both Outline Planning consent for the overall masterplan for BSkyB’s 8.5ha headquarters campus in Osterley, west London and full planning consent for the first main building (22,000 sq. metres), during 2005 and 2006. The commission included the preparation of the planning application strategy and the Outline Planning application, covering a Planning Statement, Design & Access Statement, Environmental Statement, Transport Assessment and Travel Plan Statement, Energy Statement, Construction Method Statement and Report of Community Involvement. The application involved over 70,000 sq. metres of new and retained floorspace, including several large new buildings. Key issues included ensuring planning policy compliance, attention to scale of development and height of buildings, transport impact and parking, public transport accessibility and energy and sustainability. The negotiation of the S106 Agreement was completed.
The work was undertaken by a multi-disciplined team of planners, transport planners and engineers, environmental, energy and utility specialists and architects over 18 months, including negotiations with the London Borough of Hounslow. Regular meetings with the client, including the CEO and senior officers of BSkyB and with the Chief Planner and senior officers of the London Borough of Hounslow.
London Sustainable Industries Park and Institute for Sustainability (IoS), Thames Gateway
We led a small team that provided input into the wider reports on the London Sustainable Industries Park at Dagenham Dock and the Institute for Sustainability in the Thames Gateway in December 2008. The work involved a review of planning policy (national, regional and local) as it applies to the area/site and then a review of options and a ‘route map’ to delivering planning consent for both projects. This involved a review of the then decision making processes, researching a detailed planning history of the area, proposing planning application options and recommendations for the way forward. The work was used to develop more detailed proposals for both projects.
Shellhaven Planning Appeal Document Review and Evidence Preparation
We led a team of planners, transport and environmental specialists undertaking the review, during 2002, of the Outline Planning application, Transport & Works Act Order (TWAO) and Harbour Empowerment Order for the redevelopment of the former 582ha Shell Haven Oil refinery and associated refinery expansion land, termed ‘London Gateway’. Redevelopment provided for a major road (and rail) linked logistics and commercial centre, including 1 million sq. metres of warehousing, general and light industrial development and ancillary uses; the provision of new railways and relocation of existing railway lines to carry freight to serve the commercial development; and, creation of a new deepwater port and roll-on roll-off terminal.
This commission culminated in a full report to Thurrock Borough Council evaluating all the issues, including a summary of priorities. Subsequently, we led the preparation of Statements of Case for the appeal against non-determination and for the TWAO; reports to Committee for Thurrock Borough Council; and, the preparation of evidence for the Council’s Planning witness.
Channel Tunnel Rail Link (High Speed 1)
Chris Stratford, (Director of HPC) was the Deputy Manager from 1997 - 1999, as part of a 30 staff team, responsible for gaining all c. 500 planning and heritage consents for CTRL within the agreed programme. This included extensive consultations with the client, 10 local planning authorities, English Heritage, Environment Agency, local community groups, statutory authorities, highway authorities and parish councils. Specific work covered management of the teams for the St. Pancras and Kent areas and the project’s relationship with the Environment Agency.
Channel Tunnel
From 1987 – 1991, Chris Stratford (Director of HPC) was part of the team responsible for the preparation of planning and technical submissions to obtain consents to complete the project programme for the UK terminal at Folkestone. This included extensive consultations with the client and the various contractors, local planning authorities, Government departments, English Heritage, Environment Agency, local community groups, statutory authorities, highway authorities and parish councils.
Specific work covered the preparation of a report on the consent requirements (planning and development) of all relevant legislation for the project, preparation of summary context documents, the preparation of submissions for consent and monitoring of the database.
