Thank you to those who attended our seminar on the GLA’s ambitious plans to transform Oxford Street. The event, hosted in partnership with the New West End Company, made clear why a thriving West End that is attractive to residents, visitors and businesses alike is so important to the success of not just Westminster, but the wider Central Activities Zone (CAZ) and, indeed, the country. Read Deputy Mayor for Business & Growth, Howard Dawber's summary of the discussion here.
A planning system that supports good growth is vital to this success, and something we have continued to advocate for in our conversations with Westminster City Council on its Partial Review of the City Plan. How flexible planning policy can unlock economic growth was highlighted by the OBR in its forecast for the Chancellor's Spring Statement - revealing that the economy will be almost £7bn larger by 2029/30 as a result of the Government's planning reforms. You can read our own submission to the Treasury on this here.
WPA has now finalised a Statement of Common Ground with Westminster City Council, outlining the areas in which we agree and disagree. This Statement has been signed by both parties and will be submitted to the inspector ahead of the forthcoming Examination in Public (EiP) hearings, taking place from Tuesday 29 April to Thursday 1 May.
Before that we need to finalise our legal and planning arguments in representations to the
If you would like further information on our activity ahead of EiP, working on your own representations to the MIQs or requesting to attend hearings, please do get in touch with andrea.williams@cwpa.org.uk. In the meantime, you can read the full Statement of Common Ground by clicking here or the link below. All documents connected to the Draft City Plan Partial Review can be found on our website here.
Join us for our upcoming breakfast seminar, bringing together landlords and occupiers to explore how we can address the carbon performance gap and deliver a greener, cleaner city.
Hosted at JLL’s headquarters just off Carnaby Street and held in partnership with Westminster City Council, attendees will be provided an update on how the Sustainable City Charter is helping owners and occupiers reduce operational carbon emissions with an exclusive preview of some of the best carbon reduction case studies drawn from its signatories.
Sign up now to attend an exclusive preview of our upcoming research, Social Value in the Built Environment, taking place at Quadrum Global’s 11 Belgrave, an office-led redevelopment that has enhanced the surrounding area through public realm improvements, urban re-greening and over 14,000 sq ft of communal space.
The report suggests a new, unified industry approach to transform the way we define and measure the social impact generated by development. Following an overview of the report’s key findings and recommendations, a panel of industry leaders and contributors to the paper will explore:
What ‘good’ social value looks like
The commercial benefits of embedding social value in developments
Best practices for evaluating and reporting social impact
Tours of the building will be available following the seminar.
There is one table and a very limited number of tickets remaining for the WPA Annual Dinner, taking place on Thursday 1 May at The Londoner Hotel, so this is your last chance to secure your place at the event.
The dinner is the perfect opportunity for members to enjoy an exclusive evening of entertainment with industry peers and celebrate Westminster’s built environment. Prices include a champagne reception and half bottle of wine per person, or alternative low and non-alcoholic options on request.
Westminster City Council planning department changes
Tracy Darke is to become the Director of Town Planning and Building Control on an interim basis starting from Monday 31 March. She has previous experience in planning and senior leadership positions around strategic transport, place-making and infrastructure for local authorities across the country.
New nighttime economy proposals published
The draft strategy by Westminster City Council aims to balance the competing tensions of residents and businesses in central London’s most popular nighttime entertainment locations and is anticipated to have a significant impact on the local economy and businesses in the area. A public consultation on the plans runs until Sunday 22 June. For further details on the WPA’s response please contact andrea.williams@cwpa.org.uk. Read more about the strategy here.
Plans to pedestrianise Oxford Street still out for consultation
The Greater London Authority’s consultation on the pedestrianisation of Oxford Street and plans to create a Mayoral Development Corporation (MDC) to oversee this transformation, is open until Friday 2 May. Submit your views here or for further details on the WPA’s response, contact andrea.williams@cwpa.org.uk.
BID ballot results in
Heart of London Business Alliance has announced the renewal of four BIDs in the heart of London’s West End, with all four BID areas receiving 90% of votes in favour. Read more here.
Westminster City Council also held a statutory ballot for the Victoria Renewal and Alteration BID, which saw 97.1% of business ratepayers voting in favour. Read more here.
Fitzrovia West Neighbourhood Forum re-designation consultation
Westminster City Council has received an application to re-designate the Forum following the expiry of its designation in February. This application is open for public comment until Monday 21 April and comments can be emailed to neighbourhoodplanning@westminster.gov.uk. Read more about the plans here.
Westminster City Council signs High Street Rental Auction (HSRA) scheme
This initiative signed by 10 other local authorities gives local councils the power to auction leases for commercial properties that have been empty for long periods. Read more here.
Partner updates
Heart of the City – Climate Action Toolkit
Heart of the City’s free online Climate Action Toolkit is designed to help SME’s reach net zero by creating their first net zero action plan. The toolkit is split into four easy to follow step-by-step modules, designed by sustainability experts to get SMEs started on their net zero journey. Access the toolkit here.
This Women’s History Month we are running a series of interviews showcasing the immense and varied contributions women are making to London’s built environment and sharing their advice on how to develop a career in the industry. You can read the first Empowering Women in Real Estate interview with Sophie Morgan (CPA NextGen Chair and Senior Development Manager, Landsec)here.
For more information on how to make central London’s real estate sector more accessible and inclusive for women, read our guidebook on gender here.
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