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Introduction Our Projects Our People Added Value
“The judges said this entry was a breath of fresh air to read. Iceni stood out as different, creative, colourful and innovative. They’ve not been afraid to break away from the mould and be themselves, having developed their own successful and imaginative approach to clients and staff offering above and beyond what is expected from a large consultancy.
“The judges were especially impressed by Iceni’s tribal ethos, in the sense that they have created a culture which is staff focused and highlights the importance of their wellbeing above all else.”
RTPI Awards for Planning Excellence 2021
Introduction | A multi-skilled consultancy
RETAIL
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.
We achieve this by knowing our tradecraft – the technical skills that come through years of education and on-the-job experience that is recognised by professional accreditation. But it is also daring to be different; being proactive and thinking strategically. Our client relationships are built on trust, togetherness, enthusiasm, and a courage to challenge, where appropriate. The technical specialisms that the company hold have widened, but this fundamental objective remains the same. We are committed to putting our client’s interests first – and providing them with the tools to significantly improve their performance.
Iceni understands that retail uses are still a core component of town and city centres. Whether new forms of retail are being proposed, in town or out of town or if alternative uses to retail are being sought, the Local Planning Authority will need to test proposals against existing policies. Helping clients deliver retail that maintains and sustains footfall ensures that a centre still functions for its shoppers; repurposing or redeveloping retail for new uses can sustain existing centres.
Iceni has extensive experience in assessing the role of retail from specific units to shopping centres and retail parks to high streets acting for occupiers, councils, funders and developers. Supporting new commercial uses that challenge existing form and formats Iceni also advise on the transformation of retail spaces to form mixed use, resilient centres.
This document contains some of our defining retail projects which we have utilised these approaches, including the involvement of a wide range of different experts within Iceni. The list below is by no means exhaustive but provides an insight into some of the planning services that we provide.
Our services include:
9 Due diligence and site research;
9 Site Assembly
9 Site appraisals and Viability;
9 Development Consultancy
9 Planning policy advice;
9 Planning strategy;
9 Town centre health checks;
Ian Anderson Chief Executive
Town and city centres are complex environments that have transport, heritage and townscape challenges that define the role and form of development in our urban centres. Iceni understands that engaging with the community a centre serves is important in securing support for proposed changes.
9 Sequential assessments;
9 Retail impact assessments;
9 Advice on retail expansion programmes;
9 Co-ordination and management of planning applications;
9 Defensive Planning/Asset Management;
9 Public consultation;
9 Planning policy representations;
9 Shopping frontages;
9 Public inquiry and expert witness;
9 Heritage and Townscape
9 Transport
9 Political Engagement
9 EIA
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
London
Da Vinci House
44 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH
T: 020 3640 8508
Glasgow
201 West George Street
Glasgow, G2 2LW
T: 0141 465 4996
Manchester
WeWork, Dalton Place
29 John Dalton Street
Manchester, M2 6FW
T: 0161 509 2840
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
DESIGN
Jonathan Stewart Director
Paul Drew Director
James Jaulim Director
Ian Mayhead Director
Sam Griffiths Director
Nick Ireland Director
Matt Kingham Director
Silke Gruner Director
James Waterhouse Director
Jamie Sullivan Director
Laurie Handcock Director
Paul McColgan Director
ENGAGEMENT & PLACE BUILT
Nick Walker Director
Gemma Gallant Director
Philippa Curran Director
Callum Fraser Director
Chris Jones Director
Gary Mappin Director
Ian Gallacher Director
John Mumby Director
Kieron Hodgson Director
Leona Hannify Director
Lewis Westhoff Director
Lorna O’Carroll Director
Simon Fowler Director
Nick Grant Director
Clive Burbridge Director
Fred Peters Director
Rob Amey Director
Introduction Our Projects
Our People Added Value
Anglia Square Norwich
Authority: Norwich City Council
Proposal: Multi-use development including 1,250 new homes; hotel, retail, commercial and office floorspace; a cinema; and, a new place of worship.
Services: Impact Management | Sustainable Development | Built Heritage & Townscape | Delivery
Status: Awaiting SoS decision
Iceni secured a resolution to grant consent for the phased redevelopment of a large site in the centre of Norwich, which is currently occupied by a dated 1970s District Shopping Centre site, through working closely with Norwich City Council. This included consent for up to 1,250 homes; 11,350 sqm of hotel floorspace; 9,850 ground floor flexible retail, services, food and drink, office; 1,150 sqm commercial floorspace; a new place of worship; and a new cinema.
The new scheme will provide two new central Plazas designed to significantly enhance pedestrian and cycle movements through the site in a legible and safe manner. It will be defined by a new ‘Landmark Tower’ of up to 20 storeys in height, which will be one of the tallest building in Norwich alongside the Cathedral spire.
Iceni were responsible for the preparation of the Planning Application, accompanying Environmental Statement and Townscape and Visual Impact Assessment. Delivery services included development consultancy, planning and development viability and was critical in attracting in excess of £12 million in grant from Homes England.
New Mersey Shopping Park
Speke, Liverpool
Authority: Liverpool City Council
Proposal: 11-screen cinema; six restaurant units; and new and improved public realm
Services: Engagement
Status: Permission Granted (Development Ongoing)
Situated in Speke, to the south east of Liverpool the significant redevelopment of New Mersey Shopping Park will see the creation of a brand new leisure centre, transforming the park from a local shopping quarter to a regional destination. The first stage of ongoing plans include: the creation of an 11-screen Cineworld cinema; six restaurant units; and new and improved public realm space.
These proposals received unanimous planning consent in 2015. Iceni sought to bolster relationships with stakeholders and the wider community to ensure the project was in a strong and supported position prior to committee. As such engagement went beyond the archetypal approach, our activities included:
A two-day canvassing event held at the Shopping Park to garner shopper support for the investment proposals;
An on-site public exhibition of the proposals;
A presentation given to a local housing association by the project team; and
Promotion of the Shopping Park’s ongoing work with the local community, inclusive of seasonal job fairs.
Following success at committee, Iceni Engagement now continue to help keep the local community and stakeholders up to date with the Shopping Park’s ongoing regeneration progress.
Lakeside Basin
West Thurrock
Authority: Thurrock Council
Proposal: New foodstore and Housing
Services: Transport
Status: Approved, subsequent application for additional housing on foodstore site
Iceni Transport, working on behalf of Hammersons, was involved with a planning application for the demolition of existing buildings and redevelopment of land within the Lakeside Basin, West Thurrock. The planning consent allows for the development of commercial use (large Morrisons foodstore with petrol filling station, restaurant, drive-through restaurant and community uses), as well as up to 320 residential units and associated highways improvements.
The approval follows significant consultation with Thurrock Council, and represents a multi-million pound investment into the local area.
The proposed development will create homes and jobs, whilst contributing towards Thurrock Council’s objectives of transforming the Lakeside Basin into a new town centre, as well as assisting with the Council’s aspirations for the West Thurrock Way Integration scheme.
Iceni’s Transport Team advised the client on transport matters producing a Transport Assessment to support the application which involved extensive consultation with the Local Authority and Highways Agency. The proposals also included a package of mitigation measures in line with the council’s aspirations for the area.
Town Centre
Slough
Authority: Slough Borough Council
Proposal: Mixed use development including 1,000 new homes alongside retail, leisure and commercial floorspace.
Services: Planning
Status: Ongoing
The Queensmere and Observatory Shopping Centres, are located within the heart of Slough Town Centre; long earmarked for regeneration under the Heart of Slough Development Brief (2007), which itself; informed the 2009 outline consent for the “Heart of Slough” development proposals (a £450 million Regeneration Zone), immediately adjacent.
The Site provides an optimum development opportunity, at a highly sustainable location – with the delivery of Crossrail in 2019, set to further enhance this (connecting Slough directly to London’s main employment centres) and by 2021, the Western Rail Access to Heathrow (WRAtH) also connecting the airport to Slough within seven minutes.
Iceni have been instructed by Green Monarch (Investors) and Catalyst Capital (Assets Manager) as the Planning Consultant, to lead on the planning application strategy and submission – in redeveloping the site for c. 1,000 residential units and over 750,000 sq. ft of new retail, leisure, and commercial floorspace. The scheme will also deliver enhanced public realm, in helping to regenerate the town-centre as a whole – and reinstate Slough’s Regional status.
Given the critical importance of the site to the Council – securing support from key political decision-makers, stakeholders, and members of the public through proactive engagement; forms a key part of the application strategy.
Tim Hortons Nationwide (Scotland)
Authority: n/a
Proposal: n/a
Services: Planning
Status: Completed
Iceni Projects provide strategic planning advice to a range of retail / food & drink sector clients across Scotland. Tim Hortons is new to the UK market and Iceni Projects are retained as their principal planning advisors for their acquisitions in Scotland. As such, the Scotland team have been key to ensuring the success of the brand across Scotland.
Iceni Projects have attained planning consents for new high street inline stores in sensitive urban locations such as Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. This involved careful negotiation of Glasgow City Council’s restrictive retail protection policies in the city’s prominent shopping streets.
The team also attained the necessary planning consents for Tim Hortons’ first UK store in Argyle Street, Glasgow. Other successful permissions which Iceni Projects have negotiated for Tim Hortons around the country relate to new drive-thrus, advertisement consents as well as other permissions such as Non-Material Variations to existing consents and the discharge of conditions.
The efficient and thorough service provided by Iceni Projects has ensured that Tim Hortons can begin operating successfully from its new acquisitions as soon as possible.
Home Bargains Nationwide (Scotland)
Authority: n/a
Proposal: Portfolio Management
Services: Planning
Status: Ongoing
Iceni Projects act on behalf of Home Bargains (TJ Morris Ltd) to provide planning consultancy advice in relation to their Scottish stores. Sound planning consultancy advice by Iceni has assisted Home Bargains with their ambitious growth plans, aiming to reach 800 stores and employing over 30,000 staff.
From the Glasgow office, Iceni are advising in relation to new development opportunities as well as the review of existing planning permissions to meet the trading needs of Homes Bargains.
The scope of services to Home Bargains includes the review of planning permissions and planning relating to existing units, providing planning appraisals of development opportunities to advise Home Bargains in relation to new store opportunities and the preparation and submission of applications for planning permission.
Using our detailed knowledge of the Home Bargains’ operation and trading requirements, Iceni provides a tailored approach to each site and specialises in the preparation of supporting Retail Statements and Retail Impact Assessments, as required, to support planning applications.
Ikea Nationwide
Authority: n/a
Proposal: n/a
Services: Planning
Status: Ongoing
Iceni consultancy experience with IKEA Stores Ltd includes due diligence and site research in relation to their nationwide acquisitions programme.
We also provide strategic planning advice on their existing portfolio of sites and stores. Our advice includes engagement strategies with local planning authorities; engagement strategies with communities; project programmes; transport planning; and retail planning analysis.
Our advice is based on a sound understanding that early planning engagement with local planning authorities - in particular on larger retail proposals - can often be the difference between success and disappointment.
Furthermore, we have helped IKEA deliver their Click & Collect format stores; most notably their store at Westfield Stratford City.
Nike Town, 214 Oxford Street Westminster
Authority: Westminster City Council
Proposal: Use class change for existing flagship retail space
Services: Planning | Built Heritage & Townscape
Status: Permission Granted
Nike Town are one of the primary tenants at 214-236 Oxford Street. Their overarching ambition was to enhance their retail offer and the customer experience at the site, providing a bespoke retail offer which would extend their existing retail floorspace to the upper levels of this iconic Grade II listed building.
Iceni obtained planning permission for extensive works to the listed building and changes of use to enable a pioneering ‘last-mile’ trainer delivery service. The new floorspace will be used to create a new unique, interactive shopping experience, which would also be able to host promotional events, and for the first time provide public access to the grand vaulted fourth floor space within this Grade II listed building.
We have advised Nike Town in connection with their wider ambitions to transform their current retail operations at the Oxford Street site from the standard retail experience to a “House of Innovation” store which would result in Nike Town’s London store becoming known globally, similar to their current New York and Shanghai stores and proposed stores in Paris and Tokyo. Iceni demonstrated to Westminster Council that Nike Town’s ambition to transform the London store to a globally prestigious store would support the Council’s ambition to retain Oxford Street as the retail centre of London and a world class retail destination.
Iceni also provided advice and obtained planning permission for alterations to a ground floor retail unit on the corner of Oxford Street and Great Portland Street including installation of a new shopfront and signage along both frontages. The resulting proposal provides a new, high quality shopfront and improves access arrangements to the existing retail unit on this Grade II listed building.
Introduction Our Projects Our People Added Value
Ian Gallacher Director, Planning
T: 0141 473 7338
M: 07868 730 512
E: igallacher@iceniprojects.com
Ian works with clients to deliver commercial solutions through the planning process.
Ian has worked in planning consultancy in Scotland for 15 years, joining Iceni in August 2016. The majority of his time was spent working with GVA out of the Glasgow office, laterally from 2013 – 2016 running their Planning team as a Director in the firm.
Ian advises on a wide range of planning and development led projects, including strategic residential, retail development, City Centre proposals and other private sector opportunities. He works within and often leads on large multi-disciplinary teams on proposals, working closely with local authorities to deliver proposals on behalf of clients. Taking a pro-active, commercial approach to planning delivery Ian has been involved in some of the key Glasgow City Centre site proposals throughout his career.
John Mumby Director, Planning
T: 020 3640 8508
M: 07887 294 390
E: jmumby@iceniprojects.com
John provides valued advice to clients to maximise opportunities and identify an optimum strategy to achieve the best outcome.
John joined Iceni’s Planning Team in December 2017, following over 12 years experience in the private sector for CgMs Consulting and RPS. John holds a Bachelors degree in Architecture and Town Planning from the University of the West of England, Bristol.
Extensive experience has been gained from a wide breadth of projects from intricate, small scale schemes to large urban development projects and John has a proven ability to provide quality advice on the full range of consultancy services from feasibility to completion including, where necessary, through the appeal process. Projects have been undertaken nationwide, covering a spectrum of planning, environmental, heritage and political factors.
Range of experience covers residential, commercial and mixed use developments, Local Plan site promotions and allocations, as well as a good understanding of the Neighbourhood Plan process. John has notable knowledge of retail developments ranging from out of town bulky goods schemes to small format convenience goods stores, having advised a national food retailer on planning matters for over 10 years.
Introduction Our Projects
Our People 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 futureproofed 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.
Iceni Futures: Smarter Sustainability
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 wont 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.
To discuss iSite please email isite@iceniprojects.com
The Sustainable Development Scorecard
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has running throughout it the ‘golden thread of sustainable development’. In spite of this, there is no clear-cut, NPFbased assessment criteria to consider a site or project’s sustainable development credentials, making current assessment processes both tricky and subjective.
The Sustainable Development Commission was established to address this recognised issue with our planning system. Made up of a balanced cross-section of industry professionals, the Commission has debated the issues and found solutions, culminating in the creation of the Sustainable Development Scorecard.
The Scorecard website is free to use and accessible to anyone with a vested interest in development, including developers, architects, planners, community groups and members of the public. By crystallising the NPPF’s guidance into a simple, online analysis tool, the Commissionaims to provide a more consistent approach to sustainable development, leading to a more sustainable built environment.