Urgent Policy Update: Supporting Sustainable Development
While most of the headlines today will focus on today’s Spring Budget Statement, which included support and funding to help create a life science hub at Canary Wharf, WPA members will also be closely following the changing planning policy and economic landscape closer to home.
Yesterday, I issued our final submission (read here)in response to Westminster City Council's updated Planning Obligations and Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (POAH SPD). Much has changed since the original consultation, including the emergence of further details on the City Council’s ‘retrofit first’ policies alongside the Partial Review of the City Plan. We have therefore called for additional policy which will help support sustainable development.
Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development, in launching the draft proposal for the Partial Review of the City Plan states: “We will not reach net zero without a significant shift in how we view development... that is why we are introducing one of the nation’s first retrofit policies, promoting sustainable growth”.
There is now a serious discussion to be had about the policy amendments WPA is suggesting, which will need to be made in tandem with the City Plan and other emerging policies. The commercial property sector in Westminster is doing more to drive the net zero agenda and innovate than any other, which is reflected in the latest data we will be discussing at a WPAbreakfast seminar on Monday.
Members are invited to join WPA Board members and senior policy leaders from Westminster City Council at the event which will explore our latest report, Delivering Good Growth in Westminster, produced by Arup exclusively for the WPA. This plots out three economic scenarios up to 2045 utilising the latest planning, commercial floorspace and developer contribution projections, alongside data on jobs, housing and carbon emissions.
This is a discussion you will want to be part of, and it is important WPA members contribute to the critical debate on why Good Growth matters, and how the Council’s policies can help support it, as well as the dire consequences if policy levers fail to lift the local economy. Details on the event, hosted by British Land, are further below.
Read Westminster City Council’s notice on its Partial Review of the City Plan here.
Charles Begley
WPA Chief Executive
Events
In our forthcoming seminar, we will be exploring the future of Westminster and the key ingredients that will lead to a thriving and equitable market. This session will explore how different scenarios, such as Good Growth, will affect the economic landscape across a range of indices, including commercial real estate, jobs and transport.
Guests will hear from leaders and decision-makers from across Westminster’s built environment including James Raynor, WPA Vice Chair & Chief Executive, Grosvenor Property UK, Michelle McGrath, WPA Board & Executive Director, Shaftesbury Capital and Debbie Jackson, Executive Director of Regeneration, Economy and Planning, Westminster City Council, who will discuss:
What is good growth, its impact on the office market and how it contributes to a thriving and equitable Westminster
The key trends and policies shaping Westminster’s economic growth, including planning, changing working patterns and transport and infrastructure
Balancing sustainability and net zero ambitions with the principles of good growth.
This seminar will be an exclusive preview for members for our forthcoming research, Good Growth in Westminster.
Register now for our AGM Evening Drinks Reception hosted at the N2 building, the latest and penultimate phase of Landsec’s transformative masterplan in Victoria.
At the reception members will hear from WPA Chair Marcus Geddes (Landsec’s Managing Director, Workplace) about the Association’s major campaigns, research and priorities during a vitally important year for our sector, London’s politics and the economy.
Located next to the Grade II listed Victoria Palace Theatre and directly above Victoria London Underground station’s ticket hall and tunnels, this recently completed complex development has created 165,000 sq ft of prime office space across 16 floors.
Marks & Spencer wins battle to demolish Marble Arch store
A High Court judge has ruled that Michael Gove’s decision to block planning permission for the redevelopment of Marks & Spencer's Marble Arch store in London was unlawful.
WPA has called for clear national policy on how developers and planners should approach complex cases regarding retrofit and redevelopment to avoid costly delays. Read WPA Chair Marcus Geddes in Bisnow's recent article on the judgement here, and in Property Weekhere.
Mount Anvil confirmed as joint venture partner with WCC
This partnership aims to regenerate the Church Street Estate starting with the provision of 429 new homes, at least 50% of which will be affordable.
Cllr Matt Noble, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Renters, Westminster City Council, said: “Confirmation of this new partnership is the latest step in our pledge to deliver a Fairer Westminster."
Westminster City Council’s Cabinet has agreed details of its proposed budget for the year ahead. This will now be subject to a vote at Full Council this evening (6 March).
Plans for the programme are progressing. You can learn more about the future of Oxford Street at an in-person event hosted by Westminster City Council on Monday 11 March.Read more here.
Westminster City Council has been nominated for awards in net zero, diversity and inclusion and children's services at the Local Government Council awards. The winners will be announced on 12 June.
Cllr Adam Hug: “We’ve been encouraged by the way all businesses have engaged with our fairer economy approach.”
In our latest LPA London Leaders interview, Leader of Westminster City Council Cllr Adam Hug talks about the future of the nation's high street and what a national Labour Government would mean for this important part of central London.
Planning and development with Cllr Geoff Barraclough
In a recent Concilio Better Places podcast, Cllr Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development at Westminster City Council provides an update on policy, outlines the key priorities of the administration, and shares his insights on a significant year of elections ahead.
In a recent video for NLA, Debbie Jackson, Executive Director for Regeneration, Economy and Planning at Westminster City Council talks to Peter Murray about changes since Labour took control, the West End’s resilience, social housing and the Great Estates.
At last night’s Westminster Planning Applications Sub-Committee (1) meeting, an application at Globe House, 89 Ecclestone Square, for use of the building as a hotel with 357 bedrooms and commercial unit at the ground floor, was refused by councillors in line with officer recommendations. The building was most recently occupied by HM Passport Office and other government departments. Following an hour-long debate, the application was ultimately refused unanimously due to the loss of office space.
The Sustainable City Charter is now 55 members strong. The latest Charter signatories include WPA Board member, Royal London Asset Management and the first school, TheSt Marylebone CE School.
The Charter is a group of likeminded businesses and organisations covering over 28 million sq ft of commercial floor space in Westminster, with the aim to reduce carbon emissions from buildings and tackle climate change.
View Westminster City Council's latest video on the Charter:
To find out how you can get involved in the free Sustainable City Charter to deliver a cleaner and greener Westminster sign up here.
For more information on the Charter and how to attend our signatory events get in touch with alice.dale@cwpa.org.uk.
Partner updates
LandAid SleepOut 2024
LandAid’s SleepOut returns on 7 March in an effort to bring an end to youth homelessness. Participants can raise money by sleeping out in one of seven UK cities or at home.
Built By Us is an organisation dedicated to growing diversity and inclusion in the built environment sector. It is currently looking for volunteer mentors to help individuals from diverse backgrounds grow their careers (find out more here); as well as supporting budding founders of micro-businesses (further information here). We encourage interested members to get involved!
Opportunity to make a commitment to diversity
Through its Emerging Talent Programme, Future of London addresses the lack of ethnic diversity in the built environment sector. They are currently looking for developers, consultancies, housing associations and London boroughs that can offer paid work experience to participants recruited by Future of London for 6-9 months. Please contact elaine@futureoflondon.org.ukto find out more.
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,compiled in partnership with Concilio.
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.
