Iceni New Settlements & Urban Extensions by James Bompas

Introduction Our Experience Our Team Added Value

An Introduction to Iceni Projects A Multi-skilled Consultancy

Formed in 2005, Iceni is now the market leader and preferred consultancy for a fast-growing number of clients. We have always sought to provide the skills of an advisor with the instincts of a developer.

With the Labour Party’s commitment to consulting local areas on the optimal locations for new settlements and the exploration of urban extensions, our expertise is potentially more relevant than ever. We understand that urban extensions and new settlements are crucial for accommodating the majority of the nation’s new homes in the coming years, especially as brownfield land becomes scarce and the capacities of our town and city centres are maximised.

Urban extensions have been recognised as a viable solution to housing needs, offering a reduced environmental footprint. At Iceni, we see these extensions not only as housing solutions but as opportunities for transformative development. These projects can address inherent structural deficiencies and achieve exemplary environmental performance.

Strategic planning at Iceni is straightforward and effective. We fundamentally believe in assessing needs, evaluating constraints, and identifying practical solutions. Our approach is to have a strategic vision that goes beyond the limiting constraints of development management policies, utilising a diverse range of skills

to deliver large-scale infrastructure and development projects that benefit our clients commercially.

Iceni is actively advising on urban extensions in locations including Thurrock, Brentwood, Havering, Southend, South Cambridgeshire, and the Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. This extensive experience underscores our capability in this sector.

Our advisory services encompass all aspects of the planning process. Initially, this includes site identification, planning and political due diligence, masterplanning, and land budgeting. Following this, we move into a development plan promotion stage, which involves plan representations, scheme design, political engagement, and project branding. The culmination of our process is the submission of a planning application, where our expertise extends to archaeology, built heritage and townscape, design, economics, engagement strategies, Iceni futures, impact management, landscape, planning, and transport.

Ian Anderson Chief Executive

West Horndon

East Tilbury

Sector D, Southend / Rochford

Your Strategic Adviser

Birmingham

The Colmore Building 20 Colmore Circus Birmingham, B4 6AT T: 0121 262 4148

Edinburgh 14-18 Hill Street

Edinburgh, EH2 3JZ T: 0131 370 3486

Glasgow

201 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 2LW T: 0141 465 4996

London Da Vinci House 44 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH T: 020 3640 8508

Manchester Dalton Place 29 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6FW T: 0161 509 2840

Introduction

The Team Structure of Iceni

Ian Anderson Chief Executive

Andrew Gale Chief Operating Ofﬁcer

James Bompas Director | Business Devt. & Strategic Planning

ARCHAEOLOGY

Claire Cogar Director

BUILT HERITAGE & TOWNSCAPE

Laurie Handcock Director

Nick Walker Director

DESIGN

Jonathan Stewart Director

Paul Drew Director

ECONOMICS

Nick Ireland Director

Matt Kinghan Director

Paul McColgan Director

ENGAGEMENT & PLACE

Gemma Gallant Director

Philippa Curran Director

IMPACT MANAGEMENT

James Jaulim Director

LANDSCAPE

Silke Gruner Director

PLANNING

Callum Fraser Director

Chris Jones Director

Gary Mappin Director

Ian Gallacher Director

Ian Mayhead Director

James Waterhouse Director

Kieron Hodgson Director

Leona Hannify Director

Lewis Westhoff Director

Lorna O’Carroll Director

Nick Grant Director

Simon Fowler Director

TRANSPORT

Clive Burbridge Director

Fred Peters Director

Mike England Director

Rob Amey Director

Jamie Sullivan Director

John Mumby Director

Introduction Our Experience Our Team Added Value

Your Strategic Adviser

West Horndon

Brentwood & Thurrock

In line with Iceni’s ethos of combining the skills of an advisor with the developer’s instincts, our engagement with the West Horndon project exemplifies our strategic approach to property consultancy. We have identified West Horndon as an exemplary location in the South East of England for strategic scale development.

West Horndon possesses all the necessary attributes to support strategic scale growth. It boasts essential infrastructure and job opportunities, conducive to sustainable living and working environments. However, it currently lacks adequate housing and the high standards of 21st-century placemaking. Recognising this potential, Iceni proactively identified West Horndon as a prime opportunity for strategic growth. With the majority of the land under one principal ownership, we initiated the process to move the land forward as a development opportunity. This initiative was part of our commitment to assist a long-standing and valued client in agreeing on promotion terms with the landowner.

Currently, Iceni is actively promoting the land through the Development Plan process. Our approach involves engaging all our teams and disciplines to build a compelling case for development. This project is a testament to our ability to identify and nurture development opportunities, from the initial stages of site identification and masterplanning to the intricate processes of development plan promotion and planning application submission. Our involvement in West Horndon showcases our commitment to delivering large-scale infrastructure and development projects that not only meet the immediate needs of our clients but also contribute positively to the community and environment, aligning with our vision of transformative development.

105 ha

10,000

Provision of new roads

Station upgrades

New schools

Local shops & community facilities

Parkland & play areas

East Tilbury Thurrock

At Iceni, we focus on identifying and developing strategic urban extensions and new settlements, with East Tilbury in the Thames Gateway, east of London, being a notable example of our work in this area.

The location of East Tilbury, enhanced by its excellent rail and road connectivity, including the A13 and the proposed Lower Thames Crossing, presents it as a suitable site for strategic-scale development. Since our start in 2005, we have been committed to promoting land at East Tilbury. Despite challenges like its Green Belt status and delays in Local Plan approvals, our consistent efforts have led to progress. In 2010, we achieved permission for 300 homes following a Public Inquiry appeal. More recently, in 2022, we submitted a planning application for 1,000 homes along with a relief road, expecting it to be reviewed by a Planning Committee in early 2024.

Engaging with local communities and stakeholders is an integral part of our approach. We have regularly interacted with the local community forum (WELCOM) and have organised numerous engagement events. Collaborations with Network Rail, the Environment Agency, Historic England, Natural England, the Princes Foundation, and other design authorities have been essential in addressing this project’s complexities.

The future looks promising with the site’s inclusion in the Regulation 18 Local Plan consultation, scheduled for December 2024. This step reflects the recognised potential of East Tilbury as a model for urban extension and new settlement.

74 ha

Up to 1,000

New 2-form primary school

New local centre

New vehicular bypass

New publicly accessible open space

Up to 35% affordable housing

Land North of Southend

Southend & Rochford

Iceni Projects have had a long-term role in promoting and advising on this land, having previously supported Cogent, and now Bellway. They are providing planning, masterplanning, landscape, transport, economics and social infrastructure inputs on the project.

Bellway Strategic Land’s project north of Eastern Avenue and east of Southend Airport aims to create eight new villages with about 10,000 homes. This plan, part of the emerging Local Plans for Rochford District and Southend City, involves extensive technical work to ensure the feasibility and quality of the development. Since the 2021 Proof of Concept, there has been ongoing design evolution, influenced by multiple stakeholder workshops and discussions. The development focuses on sustainable, people-centric communities, resilience against climate change, and adaptability for future generations.

EASTERN GATEWAY OPPORTUNITY ZONE

Hills Garden Village

The project has transitioned from a masterplan to a ‘development framework’, focusing on working with the landscape to form diverse, integrated communities. Central to this vision is enhancing resident well-being through a balanced mix of land uses and a movement network. The development aspires to positively impact Rochford and Southend residents by providing new infrastructure for sports, recreation, leisure, employment opportunities, and strategic transport, including public transport, walking, and cycling options.

Town Centre West Horndon

Dunton

Basildon

ROCHFORD

15ha employment

10,000

Four primary schools and a secondary school.

Active travel improvements

Creation of a new Barling Marsh Nature Reserve

Support significant economic growth

A new sustainable east-west movement corridor

ROCHFORD / SOUTHEND OPPORTUNITY ZONE

London Southend Airport

SOUTHEND

Southend Coastline

Land North of Southend

Introduction Our Experience Our Team Added Value

James Waterhouse Director, Planning

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07734 464 067

E: jwaterhouse@iceniprojects.com

As a founding Director at Iceni Projects, James has been instrumental in steering the company’s focus towards urban extensions and new settlements, areas increasingly vital in today’s urban planning landscape.

James’s proficiency lies in handling the multifaceted challenges of planning in urban extensions and new settlements. His role involves comprehensive site appraisal and promotion, tailored specifically to the unique demands of developing on the peripheries of urban areas or establishing entirely new communities. He excels in navigating the intricacies of Development Plans, regeneration strategies, planning applications, and appeal work, all within the context of these specialised areas.

James sits within Iceni’s Strategic Planning team, who enable him to maximise the range of projects he can work on at any one time.

Leona Hannify Director, Planning

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07972 894 016

E: lhannify@iceniprojects.com

Leona, as a Director in the Strategic Planning Team, plays a significant role in promoting various large-scale projects.

Her focus primarily lies on greenfield, residential-led mixed-use schemes and renewable energy developments, both key in the context of urban extensions and new settlements.

Her comprehensive understanding of planning processes and steadfast determination are instrumental in managing the delivery of significant strategic development sites. Since joining Iceni Projects in 2012, after working on notable project portfolios in Ireland, Leona has successfully obtained planning permissions for various major commercial, residential, and infrastructure projects in the UK. These projects often involve Environmental Impact Assessments, where she expertly leads and coordinates large multidisciplinary teams.

Leona’s technical skills are complemented by her strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal abilities, honed through interactions with both private and public sector clients and working within multidisciplinary project teams.

Lorna O’Carroll Director, Planning

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07875 681 532

E: locarroll@iceniprojects.com

In her role at Iceni Projects, Lorna employs a meticulous and analytical approach.

She specialises in producing and advising on socio-economic impact assessments for a variety of development projects. These typically encompass residential, commercial, mixed-use, and transport projects, all essential in the field of urban extensions and new settlements.

Lorna’s expertise also includes developing health and equality impact assessments for complex urban development projects. She has effectively managed the preparation and submission of planning applications, demonstrating her ability to lead multidisciplinary project teams and liaise successfully with local planning authorities.

A significant part of her work involves advocating for strategic housing and employment sites in the local plan process. This includes conducting employment land reviews, local economic assessments, and growth option studies for a diverse range of clients.

Lorna is recognised for her strategic mindset, strong analytical capabilities, attention to detail, and proficiency in clearly conveying complex technical information.

James Bompas Director, Planning and Business Development

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07736 314 143

E: jbompas@iceniprojects.com

James brings over 15 years of planning experience and MRTPI accreditation to his role.

Focusing on strategic planning applications crucial for new settlements and urban extensions. His work involves managing projects that include Environmental Impact Assessments, reflecting a commitment to sustainable urban development. At Iceni Projects, he is involved in site promotion, allocation, and the coordination of planning application submissions, adeptly handling appeals as needed.

James’s career started at the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, where he was part of Europe’s extensive regeneration project, managing several area action plans and contributing to the revision of the East of England Plan.

Currently, James is working on substantial projects like developing 10,000 homes in the London Borough of Havering, 2,500 homes at Arena Essex, and 1,000 homes at East Tilbury in the Green Belt.

His PRINCE2® qualification and an MBA with distinction from Henley Business School complement his skills in overseeing these complex, largescale projects.

Gemma Gallant

Director, Engagement

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07879 848 163

E: ggallant@iceniprojects.com

Gemma brings expertise in post-consent engagement and creates social value at every stage of development.

Gemma co-directs the Engagement team and has experience of leading an agency team specialising in community engagement for six years, developed after a ten-year career in community engagement and community development at Kingston Council.

As well as a great track record of mobilising support for allocations and applications, Gemma has worked on a wide range of schemes at each stage of development from estate regeneration to garden villages, and infrastructure projects estate to town centre regeneration schemes. She brings particular expertise of generating social value and protecting her client’s reputations through her post-consent experience of community development.

Gemma is skilled in creating positive relationships, developing extensive networks which support her clients’ success while bringing councillors, residents and key partners together on the journey.

Gemma is an advocate for involving the silent majority in consultation and engagement initiatives and is skilled in finding creative solutions to achieve success.

Silke Gruner Director, Landscape

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07840 178 777

E: sgruner@iceniprojects.com

Silke’s ability to identify the key landscape issues means that she can give timely advice and provide straight-forward solutions.

Silke heads up the Landscape team at Iceni, having joined from a multi-disciplinary environmental consultancy. She has over 17 years’ experience in landscape planning and masterplanning, and also appears as an expert landscape witness at Hearings and Public Inquiries. Silke is a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute and has an Honours Degree in Landscape Architecture as well as an Urban Design qualification.

Her particular experience and expertise lies in landscape planning, and especially in providing early advice and input into strategic development proposals. She is able to effectively identify landscape opportunities and potential constraints, and her experience allows her to provide clear, timely advice on how to overcome these constraints. Her Masterplanning experience allows her to consider the full picture when it comes to development design and mitigation, integrating her landscape and urban design knowledge to develop design solutions.

Silke is experienced in producing Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments, Landscape Opinions, Green Belt Assessments, and also evidence for planning appeals and Public Inquiries.

Introduction Our Experience Our Team Added Value

Added Value

iSite

iSite pulls together a number of services to enable the promoter of a project – but equally the respective consultant, local authority, consultee, local community and wider interested party – to gain the knowledge and understanding of a site or location that historically has only been possible from an in-depth site visit. Moreover, many projects are of the size and scale that even a physical site visit renders difficult to comprehend.

The key focus of iSite is to provide an intelligent digital design and consultation tool. This incorporates the use of drone photography, 360° camerawork (think Google Street View for buildings), interactive, virtual consultation halls and project web sites that can pool together all of the information for effective file management and sharing. So, whether you need to initiate an initial site survey appraisal, team site visit, pre-application meeting, public consultation event or committee presentation, iSite can help.

iSite won’t be for everyone. We understand that. But if you are looking for cost-effective ways to progress with your proposals, it could be the answer.

Branding, Design & Communications

From Site Promotion through to Post-Consent Engagement, our talent in-house Design and Communications Team bring sites to life, employing clear narratives and graphic interventions to help navigate development through the complex planning system.

From transforming dense planning data into a digestible visual language to bringing a site’s vision to life with project websites and animated content, visual communication is a cornerstone of any successful, large-scale development.

Our in-house Design and Communications Team are skilled at engaging with local communities and planning authorities alike, creating powerful brands and striking visual collateral to guide your development through the planning process.

Added Value

Iceni Futures

The Iceni Futures team was set up in response to the rapidly changing world and the acknowledgment that more than ever, we need to create future proofed and sustainable development. The teams role is to assess, predict and influence change across the development industry. In practice that means exploring how places and people will function in the future, analysing existing barriers and providing strategic advice which aligns with clients goals and aspirations to ensure development is fit for the future.

The team doesn’t claim to be experts in every new discipline or product, but they understand the existing barriers and outdated development processes that persist across the industry and the importance of working innovatively and smarter to deliver client visions and change that actually works. It’s understood that each client will need tailored advice and the Futures team look to work collaboratively to provide advice which is tailored to a specific site, company strategy or product. Essentially, if you’re looking to plan for or capitalise on the future, Iceni Futures can be there to support you and drive that ambition.