Real estate businesses, professionals, local authorities and planning agencies met at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton last week for the second South Coast Real Estate Network event.
The evening focused on how legislative planning changes under the coalition government could offer real opportunities for the region. The event, which was jointly hosted by BDO, Blake Lapthorn and Lambert Smith Hampton began with a presentation by planning and design consultants Turley Associates.
John O’Donovan, Director at Turley Associates summarised: “There are numerous imminent changes to the planning regime which will create and change opportunities in the industry here on the South Coast. The development industry must be alive to them.”
The government has a strong growth agenda for the sector. When the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is published on 21 March, there are major opportunities to look out for including policies designed to increase housing delivery, provide more flexibility for office development outside town centres, open market and affordable rural exception sites, green living and business neighbourhood plans.
However the NPFF is opposed by a number of MPs, the Campaign to Protect Rural England and the National Trust, amongst others, who argue that the document is too vague and, with the default ‘yes’ response to proposed development and less focus on brownfield sites, the changes pose a real risk to greenfields and open spaces.
O’Donovan said, “I have never seen a Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer so involved in a planning document as they have been with the NPPF, and there is widespread concern that it will be watered down before it is published, and not be as effective in driving growth as it in the draft.”
Last year’s Localism Act, the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) are all driving change in the sector. The CIL, which has already been adopted by Portsmouth, Havant and Southampton and which will be implemented differently by each authority, is a key concern.
O’Donovan added: “There are potentially significant effects on investment and development decisions, and we need to continue to work very closely as a sector to make this pay for the South Coast region. Events such as today’s are of critical importance in making this happen.”
Head of Real Estate at accountancy firm BDO in Southampton, Chris Driver, concluded: “We are currently seeing the biggest shake-up in planning in over 50 years. The number of attendees reflected the keenness of those working in real estate and construction to understand exactly what the challenges and opportunities will be for their businesses.”
