Westminster City Council’s Post

It is encouraging to see committed spending progressing in the North West region; the £24 million regeneration of the Wirral Waterfront Woodside programme is advancing, providing 1,700 homes, hotels and tourist attractions. Elsewhere, a consultation has opened for 900 homes in Wrexham. A 113-acre site is looking to be developed by the Harworth Group, including 20% affordable housing. The project is part of the Wrexham Local Development plan and will also include the construction of local amenities such as a primary school, sports pitches and infrastructure upgrades. The concerns surrounding the economy are evidenced by the administration of house builder Stewart Milne Homes, caused by rising costs and a challenging supply chain. Read my North Western region update in our @Gleeds Market Report for the latest on trends in the local market: https://lnkd.in/e53UamG7 #UKconstruction #construction #digitalconstruction #gleedsdigital 

It is encouraging to see committed spending progressing in the North West region; the £24 million regeneration of the Wirral Waterfront Woodside programme is advancing, providing 1,700 homes, hotels and tourist attractions. Elsewhere, a consultation has opened for 900 homes in Wrexham. A 113-acre site is looking to be developed by the Harworth Group, including 20% affordable housing. The project is part of the Wrexham Local Development plan and will also include the construction of local amenities such as a primary school, sports pitches and infrastructure upgrades. The concerns surrounding the economy are evidenced by the administration of house builder Stewart Milne Homes, caused by rising costs and a challenging supply chain. Read my North Western region update in our Gleeds Market Report for the latest on trends in the local market: https://lnkd.in/dmCPx4fd #UKconstruction #construction #digitalconstruction #gleedsdigital 

Planning matters A Leap Forward for Co-Living Lichfields' initial view on the GLA’s new Large-scale purpose-built shared living London Plan Guidance February 2024. "Affordable Housing London Plan Policy H16 requires co-living developments to make a payment in lieu contribution towards the provision of new C3 off-site affordable housing. However, in accordance with the Draft Affordable Housing Guidance published last year, the LPG now recognises that in some cases the on-site provision of C3 affordable housing could be acceptable. Increasingly, we are seeing Local Authorities encouraging the delivery of on-site affordable housing, where it is possible, as it is seen as a tangible planning benefit. Further guidance on this matter is expected." See link below: https://lnkd.in/e29gsqYm #lichfields #planningmatters #blog #coliving #GLA

Very good scheme but make sure you read the small print. For example the property must be vacant when the application is made. Don’t move and then make the application . If you are converting a property from commercial to residential ,even though there is a planning exemption you will still need to apply to the local authority for confirmation that the exemption from planning applies https://lnkd.in/eJ9g8iV4

New case study: mixed-use project. Phase II: The Mayfair. 69 affordable housing units for low-income families. Proposed GSF: 70,535 Sq. Ft. Cost: $2,715,035. #affordablehousing #communitydevelopment #housingforall #lowincomefamilies #MayfairProject

We want to build more homes in the right places to meet people’s needs. In some places, low land values or high clean up costs make it difficult to build affordable homes. Our new West Yorkshire Housing Strategy will help us work together to make it easier to revitalise brownfield land with pre-existing developments on it. We aim to: • Create more opportunities to build affordable homes as part of well-connected communities. • Support local authorities to deliver on the housing need set out in their local plans. • Improve the number of sustainable homes developed. • Increase in the number of homes built at priority sites. Read our housing strategy to understand more about our ambitions for housing in West Yorkshire. https://lnkd.in/eSBdicp8

New buildings are crucial in addressing the current housing crises. It's great to see the completion of the new apartments on McLeod Street next to Cairns Central. This development provides much-needed accommodation, with more private and publicly funded options in planning or under construction. #HousingCrisis #NewDevelopments.

🔊Future high streets fund work update ⬇️ ➡️Our work on the vacant units near Middle Entry continues to progress. Sensitive demolition is well underway, with the interiors cleared and roof and top floor demolition ongoing. ➡️Scaffolding is now around the buildings to allow us to safely demolish the rest of the buildings. ➡️In their place we’re constructing a new building offering affordable space for new and small businesses. ➡️This work forms part of our ambitious regeneration plans to transform the town centre into a vibrant, thriving place that meets the needs of residents, visitors and local businesses. Transforming Tamworth to... ⚫Improve the look and feel of the town. ⚫Create better links between Tamworth Castle and grounds, Town Hall and St Editha’s Church. ⚫Reinvigorate the wonderful heritage buildings we have in the town, bringing them back into active use. ⚫Create an accessible, usable public space in St Editha’s Square. ⚫Create opportunities for new businesses. ⚫Increase the number of daily and tourist visitors to the town centre. Visit: https://lnkd.in/enqcWm7J for more information.

Thanks Kronen Limited for your valuable highways assistance on this.

Ka mau te wehi Auckland Council. The council's portfolio review programme is arguably one of the most successful asset optimisation programmes nationwide. It doesn't get as many cheers as I believe it should given its contribution to council savings, revenue, service improvement and, through Eke Panuku projects, improvement to our built form, and socio-economic outcomes. Their teams can teach us a lot about the issues, opportunities, constraints and limitations of this kind of 'asset recycling'. They will also tell us that while the wins are significant, none of it comes cheap. Behind the success highlighted below is a series of tough, smart and often unpopular decisions. And when we're looking at improving our city as a whole, there are often more constraints and complexities than are obvious to those looking on. Consolidating assets upsets communities who are attached to what they have. And land optimisation at scale can almost always only 'offset' not cover the cost of improvements, no matter how smart the approach. Infrastructure is expensive, and is a social product not a commercial product - like our hospital system, it is essential and only affordable when we all pitch in. We are a small country, our low population and broad geographic spread impacts rates revenue, challenges efficiency and can make commercial investment risky and unappetising with uncertain returns and low margins. I am proud of our council for sticking with this when often communities throw rocks at ideas until they see the value at the end.  It has not been easy, but it is worth it - look to Takapuna town centre, the greenways in Northcote and Manukau and all the other pockets they've been gradually chipping their way through. Making prudent decisions around consolidating services and work-spaces have helped and Aucklanders are benefiting from this in rates and in the places and spaces our future generations will share. I challenge us all to think smart about how we manage these choices at a national level. I for one hope our new national infrastructure agency takes the initiative and works with us to develop a national infrastructure strategy so we can bring the best of our thinking to this challenge. #WhatDoesItTake to delivery infrastructure at scale #Fundingthedeficit