At our recent AGM Drinks Reception, WPA Chair Marcus Geddes (Managing Director, Workplace, Landsec) spoke of members’ deep affinity with Westminster and welcomed Westminster City Council’s advancement of much-needed improvements to Oxford Street and surrounding districts.
In his speech, Marcus set out key 2023 achievements and the Association’s updated business priorities for the forthcoming year, including:
Champion Westminster's economic growth as a driver of social and cultural prosperity
Continue to promote and inform best practice environmental sustainability
Strengthen relationships with private and public sector bodies to deliver on shared goals
Work towards a more diverse, equitable and inclusive property industry.
You can read more on Marcus’ speech in EGhere (£).
Guests also heard from keynote speaker Cllr Ryan Jude (Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology and Culture, Westminster City Council) who spoke of the importance of theCity Council’s partnership with WPA and our ongoing engagement on key policy areas, including its Partial Review of the City Plan and the pioneering Sustainable City Charter, he said:
“I know that we all share a common commitment to good environmentally sound growth that benefits all of our communities. I would like to reassure you that the Council also shares this commitment.
“I'd also want to take this opportunity to thank WPA and your members for the most detailed response [to the Partial Review] that you've ever put together…. That's exactly the level of engagement that we want on such a critical policy area.”
WPA NextGen Chair Emma Lally (Principal Consultant, Momentum Transport Consultancy) closed the event with a summary of the group's activity and upcoming events. To find out more about our NextGen programme, click here.
WPA Annual Report
Published to coincide with our AGM, the WPA Annual Report provides a summary of the Association’s key activities between April 2023 and March 2024. It covers the three core focuses of our work, providing information on research, policy engagement and campaigns as well as membership activities. You can read the full report below.
Hosted in partnership with the New West End Company at The Portman Estate's One Great Cumberland Place, this breakfast seminar will focus on the future of London’s most iconic shopping and cultural district.
Following a surge in demand for best-in-class office space across the West End and exciting new occupiers moving into the area, a drive in private and public sector collaboration and investment is helping to ensure the success of this vitally important district through initiatives like the Oxford Street Programme and Regent Street Public Realm Vision.
This event will explore the delivery of public realm, infrastructure, office space and cultural experiences set to transform the heart of Westminster.
You can read more about Oxford Street’s transformation in the Evening Standardhere.
Date: Tuesday4 June
Time: 8:00am – 10:00am
Venue: The Orchard, Level 8, One Great Cumberland Place, W1H 7AL
The City Council has approved plans for the refurbishment of Brown Hart Gardens and its vacant café off Oxford Street, in between Balderton Street and Duke Street. Read more here.
Council seeking views on transport in Westminster
A consultation has been launched for the Sustainable Transport Strategy, which sets out the City Council’s vision for making Westminster’s transport network more accessible, inclusive and sustainable. Submit your thoughts before 28 Junehere.
Cycle Movement Strategy consultation
The Howard de Walden Estate and the City Council are seeking feedback on plans to formalise a permanent cycle scheme for Portland Place which would see improvements to existing facilities for cyclists. The consultation closes on 4 June. Submit your thoughts here.
Climate Adaptation and Resilience Business Survey
WPA members are encouraged to share insights on their experiences and preparedness for climate risks to help inform the City Council’s climate adaptation planning. Complete the survey before 2 June here.
Other news and updates
London councils spend £2m fighting planning appeals
New research has revealed that 17 local authorities across London spent a combined £2.3m fighting rejected planning applications that were subsequently approved on appeal. Read more here(£).
New London Assembly member
Westminster City Council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Planning & Economic Development Cllr James Small-Edwards has been elected as the London Assembly member for West Central. This is the first time Labour has won the West Central seat, with Sadiq Khan also retaining his position as Mayor. Read more here.
Victoria BID joins London Heritage Quarter
The Quarter is now made up of four BIDs - Victoria Westminster, Whitehall, Northbank and Westminster, which will all remain as separate districts investing BID levy locally in ongoing projects and services.
Sustainable City Charter continues to grow
The Sustainable City Charter network now comprises 63 of Westminster’s leading businesses and institutions who have committed to delivering a cleaner, greener city. These include WPA Board members British Land, CBRE, Derwent London and The Crown Estate, and some of the City’s most renowned cultural institutions such as The Royal Society of Arts, The Royal Opera House and the actors church, St. Paul’s in Covent Garden. You can find out more about joining the Charter here.
Hosted by Central London Forward at UKREiiF, this seminar will explore the Bakerloo Line’s potential future upgrade and extension. Guests will hear from a panel of expert speakers on how this major infrastructure project could deliver huge benefits for the capital and country, and what can be done to secure its delivery.
Date: Wednesday 22 May
Time: 2.30pm – 3:30pm
Venue: War Gallery, Royal Armouries, Armouries Drive, Leeds LS10 1LT
This one-day conference held by Movers & Shakers will bring together experts, thinkers, and creatives on a shared mission to drive inclusive, and equitable economic growth as an agency for positive and purposeful change.
This annual event brings together industry leaders, policy makers and trailblazers to share latest thinking and help drive equitable and sustainable investment and development across the city.
The focus for LREF 2024 is Reimagine, where they will challenge the industry to look at new models for funding, delivery and management to support the key challenges of our times.
As a headline partner to LREF we are able to offer WPA members £100 off ticket prices using the code: LPALREF
Date: Wednesday 25 September
Venue: Guildhall, 71 Basinghall St, London EC2V 7HH
Built By Us – an organisation dedicated to growing diversity and inclusion in the built environment sector – is looking for voluntary 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
As part of its work to address the lack of ethnic diversity in the built environment sector, Future of London is looking for developers, consultancies, housing associations and London boroughs that can offer six to nine months paid work experience to participants of its Emerging Talent Programme. Please contact elaine@futureoflondon.org.uk to find out more. Read more here.
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.
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