Renowned journalist, broadcaster, political aide and author Alastair Campbell will be our guest speaker at the WPA Annual Lunch on 16 November.
Alastair is best known for his decade at the heart of British government as Tony Blair’s chief spokesman. Widely regarded as a key architect of New Labour and its success as an election winning force, he is well placed to shed light on the state of politics today.
He co-hosts the highly successful 'The Rest is Politics' political podcast and is a prolific writer, publishing 18 books in the past 14 years. At our event, Alastair will be signing copies of his latest book, 'But What Can I Do? Why Politics Has Gone Wrong, and How You Can Help Fix It.'
Date: Thursday 16 November
Time: 12noon-3.30pm
Location: Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, W1K 7TN
The City Council, in partnership with the New West End Company, has laid out a long-term vision for Oxford Street, proposing public realm improvements along its entire length. A public consultation on the plans ends on Thursday 31 August. Read more here.
Have your say on the future of Regent Street
The Crown Estate and City Council are running a series of community engagement activities to develop a new vision for public space along Regent Street, this month. The first round of engagement ends on 30 August. You can read more here.
Design Review Panel launched
Westminster City Council has unveiled its first ever Design Review Panel, a board of experts that will provide independent advice on major developments, planning, public realm and regeneration projects in the city. Panel members include WPA Board member Katy Ghahremani (Partner, Make Architects) alongside a number of wider members including Fathom Architects, Savills, Montagu Evans and PDP. Read more here.
Westminster High Streets Programme announced
Paddington and Bayswater have been chosen for the launch of the Westminster High Street Programme. The City Council wants to hear from residents, visitors and business-owners to understand their views and ambitions for the future of Paddington and Bayswater's high streets. The consultation will close on Friday 18 August. Read more here.
Future of Westminster Commission update
The Future of Westminster Commission, which was set up to advise on areas of policy that are critical to the future success of the city, has now reviewed and delivered its final recommendations, with more than 100 having been adopted. Read more here.
New funding to create green spaces in the City
Funding of £350,000 has been awarded to deliver local greening projects over the next year. The Greening Westminster programme is designed to improve Westminster's green infrastructure and open spaces. Read more here.
Social Value report launch
Westminster City Council has published its Social Value Impact Report for 2022/23. The report highlights the key contribution Westminster's property sector has made to community projects in the borough, including £1.3m via S106. The sector is among the highest contributors to social value impact projects. Read more about these contributions here.
Sustainable City Charter new joiners
The Howard de Walden Estate and HoLBA have become the latest signatories to the Sustainable City Charter. The Charter, developed in partnership by WPA and Westminster City Council, has received over 100 expressions of interest, 37 of which are full signatories. You can view the full list of current participants here.
Repairs support for charities needed
The City Council’s Responsible Economy Team is looking for contractors willing to undertake pro-bono repair and minor refurbishment work for the premises of charities. These buildings, which are often old, are used by local charities to serve Westminster's communities. If you would like to help please email socialvalue@westminster.gov.uk
Other news and updates
Westminster set to become one of London’s three newest Creative Enterprise Zones
The Mayor of London has announced that Westminster will be part of the expansion of the Creative Enterprise Zones (CEZ). The Mayor has invested £14.7 million so far and Westminster will receive a share of £210,000. Read morehere.
Board vacancy for Westminster Community Homes
Westminster Community Homes, which works in close partnership with the City Council to help deliver its overall housing strategy is seeking a new board member. The closing date for applications is 9.00am on Tuesday 8 August. Read more here.
BAME in Property supporting social enterprise Fair Shot
Priya Aggarwal-Shah, Founder and Director of BAME in Property, sat down with Bianca Travella, the founder of Fair Shot, a social enterprise café and UK charity that aims to transform the lives of young adults with learning disabilities and/or autism through speciality coffee. Read more here.
Government planning update
Planning application fees increase
The Government has drafted legislation that will increase fees for major planning applications by 35% and other applications by 25%. A provision has also been included that from April 2025 fees can be increased annually in line with inflation. You can read more here.
Local plan-making reform consultation
A consultation has been launched on reforms to the local plan-making process. This builds upon many of the principles which are progressing in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill and which were outlined in the wider planning reform consultation last December. The consultation ends on the 18 October. Read more here.
Second staircases mandate under consideration
The Government has confirmed its intention to mandate second staircases in residential buildings over 18 metres. No timescales were provided, but the announcement said that transitional arrangements would be designed “over summer” to secure the viability of projects “which are already underway." You can read more here.
Events
Members and stakeholders are invited to an early evening reception with Lee Rowley MP, Minister for Local Government and Building Safety, in the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC).
Hear from the Minister on the Government’s priorities for improving the safety of tall buildings in central London and the principles behind the Building Safety Act. He will discuss how commercial buildings can contribute to the UK’s Net Zero goals - including the role of retrofitting and sustainable redevelopment - and how DLUHC is working with the industry to deliver safe and sustainable buildings of the future.
This event is kindly hosted by Hill Dickinson and will take place at The Broadgate Tower, one of the tallest buildings in the City of London.
Date: Tuesday 12 September
Time: 5.00pm - 7.00pm (Speeches start at 5.40pm)
Venue: Hill Dickinson LLP, The Broadgate Tower, 20 Primrose Street, London, EC2A 2EW
Join us for a breakfast seminar – organised by WPA NextGen, but open to all members - exploring the transformation of Tottenham Court Road. Our expert speakers include:
Charlotte Ashton, WPA NextGen committee member and Leasing Manager, Derwent London
Richard Bradbury, Director of Environment and Sustainability,London Borough ofCamden
Priya Majeethia, Director, Gardiner & Theobald
Professor Tony Travers, LSE London
Paul Williams, Chief Executive, Derwent London and WPA Immediate Past Chair
We have a very limited number of spaces to join a walking tour of the Howard de Walden Estate's Marylebone portfolio.
The walking tour will explore the history of the estate and feature insights on ongoing public realm projects in Portland Place and the world-famous Harley Street medical district. The event will end with networking, drinks and an address by WPA Board member Julian Best (Howard de Walden Estate's Executive Property Director).
Please contact william.green@cwpa.org.uk for more information or to register your place.
Date: Wednesday 20 September
Time: 4.00pm – 7.30pm
Meeting point: 23 Queen Anne Street, Marylebone, W1G 9DL
Partner events
Join the LandAid 10K and help to end youth homelessness
LandAid is hosting a sponsored 5k or 10k fun run to raise money for young people facing homelessness. This year’s event is taking place at Regent’s Park, on Wednesday 20 September from 1pm. You can either join in person or virtually, on your own or as part of a team. Register here.
London Real Estate Forum 2023
Supported by NLA’s year-round programme of content, the London Real Estate Forum will bring together leaders from the industry, public sector, government, investment and business communities in order to drive sustainable development in cities.
As a key partner to LREF we are able to offer WPA members £30 off ticket prices using the code: LPALREF23
Date: 27-28 September
Location: Barbican Centre, Silk Street, London, EC2Y 8DS
Heart of the City - Lunch And Learn: SDGS And Responsible Business Strategies
Heart of the City is hosting an online lunch seminar to discuss how sustainable development goals overlap with responsible business strategies and how businesses can ensure that their contribution is helping build a better future.
Movers & Shakers: London real estate – re-shaping the landscape
Movers & Shakers is hosting a breakfast seminar to discuss the changing landscape of the London real estate industry. Speakers at the event include Kristy Lansdown (Head of Development, The Crown Estate and WPA Board), Stella Abani MBE (Director of Economy & Skills, Westminster City Council) and Dee Corsi (CEO, New West End Company).
There is still time to enter for the Westminster Business Council Awards. Categories include ESG Business Champion, Sustainable Business Innovation in Construction and Westminster Built Environment Excellence. The deadline for entry is 25 August. Award sponsors are also sought.
Date: 19 October
Location: Church House, Westminster Great Smith Street London SW1P 3AZ
Both WPA and CPA members have access to our comprehensive database of all major decisions from central London's major planning committees. These can be viewed on our Planning News page.
For more details on all of the property news stories in the central London boroughs over the last seven days please visit the news section of the London Planning website.
Westminster Property Association, Bloomsbury Building, 10 Bloomsbury Way, Holborn, London SE15 3ED, United Kingdom
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