matthew cripps’ Post

On 9 July 2024, the Department of Planning, Housing, and Infrastructure released state-led rezoning proposals for the first three Accelerated Transport Oriented Development Program (TOD) Precincts. The precincts include Kellyville-Bella Vista, Hornsby and Macquarie Park which are set to deliver up to 30,000 new homes close to jobs, transport, open space, shops and nightlife. Kellyville-Bella Vista: • 20,700 new homes • Mandatory affordable housing contribution of 3-8% • 10,000 jobs Hornsby: • 5,000 new homes • Mandatory affordable housing contribution of 5-10% • 3,450 jobs • Potential for up to 12,000 m2 of open space for new and upgraded parks, a new library, community centre, cultural and creative facilities Macquarie Park: • 4,600 new homes • Mandatory affordable housing contribution of 10-15% • Potential to use E2 Commercial Centre zoned land to deliver an additional 5,069 Build-to-Rent homes Public exhibition on the rezoning proposals for the three precincts will occur from 9 July to 9 August 2024. Jeff Mead Sophie Perry Troy Loveday

The #Sacramento City Council recently approved a general plan aimed at reshaping housing development and transportation infrastructure by 2040. Effective March 28, this plan introduces significant changes to #housing policies, including incentivizing the construction of multi-unit buildings like triplexes and fourplexes in areas traditionally designated for single-family #homes. Key features of the plan include maintaining existing height limits to preserve the character of single-family neighborhoods while accommodating population growth. Additionally, the plan introduces regulations that allow property owners to build on a greater portion of their lot (known as floor area ratio or FAR) if they opt for constructing multi-unit buildings. This policy is designed to encourage the creation of smaller, more attainable housing options. In terms of transportation, the plan prioritizes investments in pedestrian, cyclist, and public transit infrastructure over car-centric developments. It eliminates parking requirements for new housing developments, aiming to reduce the cost of housing and encourage alternative modes of transportation. Additionally, the plan prohibits new or expanded gas stations unless they include fast-charging stations for electric vehicles. Source: https://lnkd.in/gvRxbijp #sacramentorealestate #reo

We’re delighted to hear that Runnymede Borough Council (RBC) has resolved unanimously to grant planning permission (subject to the signing of a Section 106) for Longcross South, a major component of the Longcross Garden Village in Surrey. Our in-house experts provided post-application transport planning advice to the applicants, Crest Nicholson plc and Aviva, in support of agreeing a package of improvements that would be delivered in tandem with the development. These included improvements to Longcross railway station, a range of bus and Demand Responsive Transport services, plus off-site highway infrastructure work. This development will also deliver a significant financial contribution to the A320 North of Woking corridor improvement scheme. It will allow the council to claw-back monies which it had previously applied for under the Housing Infrastructure Fund, which itself was an innovative way of ensuring the timely delivery of supporting transport infrastructure. This positive planning outcome marks over 13 years of involvement from Ardent Consulting Engineers’ Director, Kevin Kay. It’s been the culmination of a long process, from the identification of this former tank-testing facility as being surplus to the MoD’s (and subsequently QinetiQ’s) requirements, to the promotion of this sustainable Garden Community, through various iterations of Core Strategies and other statutory development plans, which ultimately led to adoption within the Runnymede Local Plan 2030. Said Kevin: “A lot of time and effort was invested early on to ensure compliance with policy and in obtaining Inspector sign-off following the Local Plan examination process. “The transport case was based on a detailed technical evidence base, which considered both the residual impact of the development, as well as the significant contribution that it could make to the transport environment in this rural part of Surrey. It was supported by a range of Active Travel, public transport and highway improvements which will benefit existing and new residents.” Adds Ardent’s Project Manager, Russell Henderson: “This project has been a testament to the on-going consultation that took place with stakeholders at all stages of the planning process, in particular Surrey County Council. It really demonstrates the benefits of collaborative stakeholder engagement when it comes to transport planning and infrastructure design.” We’re now looking forward to negotiating the details of the Section 106 legal agreement, and to progressing with Reserved Matters submissions, to ensure that the new homes and services can be delivered at pace to meet the housing and employment needs in North Surrey. #TransportPlanning #Highways #CivilInfrastructure #InfrastructureProjects #PlanningPermission

Thursday saw Wellington City Council’s Kōrau Tūāpapa Environment and Infrastructure Committee make significant decisions on the city’s proposed District Plan. These aim to greatly increase the construction of new housing around the city, in the process rejecting a number of the recommendations of the Independant Hearings Panel around intensification, character, and heritage provision and taking a future focus on city shape. The rejected recommendations will be referred to the Hon Chris Bishop for a final decision. “Wellington City is growing, and our housing needs to grow with it. We are expecting 50 to 80 thousand more people over the coming 30 years. At a bare minimum, everyone in this city deserves a warm, safe, and dry place to call home. “This District Plan represents a new direction for Wellington. We are going to build a modern city by enabling people to build where they want and need to, close to the central city where infrastructure, jobs and communities already exist. This is how we build an affordable, vibrant, and resilient city.” Mayor Tory Whanau https://lnkd.in/gWGit23M

Hertsmere Borough Council's Regulation 18 Local Plan is out for consultation from today until 29th May 2024. The Plan targets delivery of 590 homes per annum, significantly less than the minimum need (731 homes per annum) calculated using the Government's standard method. It is important that unconstrained housing need is established in line with PPG, before constraints are considered and a housing requirement determined, so please get in touch with me, Simon Macklen or Isabelle Woodville-Hill in Marrons socio-economics team if any projects you are working on could benefit from analysis of housing need for the Borough. #housing #housingneed #housingcrisis #townplanning #planning

These policies aim to provide improved housing through higher densification and regeneration approaches, as well as the provision of low-cost housing schemes and enhanced public transportation. https://lnkd.in/dyukC2hd #housingpolicy #densification #regeneration #lowcosthousing #publictransportation #urbanplanning

Latest update from our Planning Team! Housing Minister Chris Bishop has announced an update on the Going for Housing Growth (GfHG) programme. The plan focuses on freeing up land, improving infrastructure funding, and providing growth incentives to increase developable land and improve housing affordability. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gU2wAPYh Faster consenting processes have been proposed with remote inspections: The Government is progressing with a requirement for building consent authorities to use remote inspections as the default approach so that building a home is easier and cheaper. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gNsdrnjk A streamlined approach for Granny flats: More than 1,300 people have submitted on a recent proposal to make it easier to build granny flats. Consultation is still open, and feedback can be provided to MBIE up to 5pm on Monday 12 August 2024. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/g2TDR-7e Stay tuned for updates on how these changes will impact urban development. For expert advice on what this means for your projects, contact Cato Bolam's planning team, free call 0800 2 CATOBOLAM. #HousingCrisis #HousingGrowth #Infrastructure #LandDevelopment

STAY ON TARGET: The government has launched a taskforce to lead on its plans to create a series of new towns. It says that these communities will have at least 10,000 properties each and be governed by a 'New Towns Code' to ensure they have appropriate infrastructure, public services, affordable housing, transport links and green spaces. The taskforce is due to consider sites and report back to ministers with recommendations within 12 months. The initiative is part of the government's plans to hits its target of 1.5 million new homes built over the next five years. Please contact us to find out more about how this - and the government's other recent planning and housing announcements - will affect your plans and projects. #planning #plans #newtowns #homes #housing #property

The new Government has been setting out initial plans for housing in the UK, and whilst there are positive moves that may require more focus on funding - as the recent open letter from the National Housing Federation describes - other changes are more systemic... The phrase for the first few weeks of the Government is "Grey belt" the liminal space between green and brown - whilst this is welcomed, should more focus be put on what is possible within our urban environments? Capital Letters CEO Sue Edmonds (Coulson) asks the Government, in her latest blog, to look for solutions in our urban environments... https://lnkd.in/edw_s2i5 #AffordableHousing #UrbanDevelopment #HousingCrisis #SustainableHousing #Infrastructure #CommunityDevelopment #RealEstate #HousingPolicy #UrbanPlanning #SocialHousing

The government announced last Wednesday that it will commit £68m in funding to go directly to 54 councils. It will mean that councils can build on brownfield sites – such as disused buildings, car parks and industrial sites. This is good news for our frameworks, their contractors and supply chain, supporting not only new homes but also supporting public infrastructure.   More efficient land use such as this is critical to realising ambitions. Our frameworks would advise planners to focus on dense urban sites where demands are lower, such as areas previously used for retail, office, or industrial use. Part of this is also about ensuring easy access to public services. Should we be considering the 15-minute city concept as everyone deserves easy access to critical services, such as healthcare and education? How do we not forget our climate ambitions as we build large urban conurbations? The funding is about supporting urban regeneration but we need to think about what model we are striving for. Is the traditional new town model (think Milton Keynes) now outdated for our modern needs? Do we need a reinvention of the town concept? #teamNACF #publicsector #urbanregeneration