Iceni Projects - Town Centre Repurposing

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Introduction Our Projects Our People Added Value

Introduction | A multi-skilled consultancy

TOWN CENTRE REPURPOSING

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.

Town centres and high streets in the UK have dramatically changed. Since the late 1990s, the rise of internet shopping, visits to out-oftown retail parks and variations in consumer spending habits have been catalysts for change. Moreover, a deep economic recession in 2008 and the Covid19 pandemic, has resulted in further impacts to bricks and mortar retailing and the functioning of the town centre.

The so called ‘decline of the high street’ has been a subject of deliberation for several years in the property sphere and in Government. Concern over the long-term viability of our high streets has prompted the publication of The High Street 2030: Achieving Change, December 2018, and latterly changes in permitted development rights, in response to Covid19 to attempt to breathe life back into town centres.

which town centres have to play in daily civic life. People should be proud of their high streets and want to use them, not solely for shopping but also for leisure and lifestyle activities.

There is still a place for retail and a real opportunity to enliven town centre spaces through a mix of housing and civic spaces as demonstrated by some of the case studies included in this document.

Ian Anderson Chief Executive

Despite changing retail habits, Iceni Projects holds an optimistic outlook for the future of town centres. The ‘death of the high street’ has been exaggerated. There is still a place for retail, just not antiquated retail. There needs to be innovation and a reimagining of the role

Your Strategic Adviser

Birmingham

The Colmore Building

20 Colmore Circus

Birmingham, B4 6AT

T: 0121 262 4148

Edinburgh

7 Alva Street

Edinburgh, EH2 4PH 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

Laurie Handcock Director

Walker Director

DESIGN

Paul Drew Director

ECONOMICS

Nick Ireland Director

Matt Kingham Director

Paul McColgan Director

ENGAGEMENT & PLACE

Gemma Gallant Director

Philippa Curran Director

IMPACT MANAGEMENT

James Jaulim Director

Silke Gruner Director

PLANNING

Callum Fraser Director

Chris Jones Director

Gary Mappin Director

Ian Gallacher Director

Ian Mayhead Director

James Waterhouse Director

Jamie Sullivan Director

John Mumby 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

Nick

BUILT HERITAGE & TOWNSCAPE

Introduction Our Projects Our People Added Value

Town Centre

Slough

The Queensmere and Observatory Shopping Centres, are located within the heart of Slough Town Centre. The sites have been earmarked for regeneration by Slough Borough Council for over ten-years, with clear aspirations for a development which could transform the Town Centre and provide a significant uplift in the number of homes.

Iceni was instructed by British Land as the Planning Consultant, to lead on the planning application strategy and submission – to redevelop the Queensmere shopping centre part of the site to provide up to 1,600 residential units, up to 40,000 sqm of office floorspace, and between 5,500 and 12,000 sqm of flexible town centre commercial retail and community floorspace, as well as the potential for a live music venue or cinema. The scheme also has the potential to significantly enhance the public realm, through the provision of a Town Square, Local Square and Urban Park.

Given the scale of the proposals and the long term nature of the development, achieving maximum levels of flexibility for the proposed development was of critical importance. Given the importance of the site to the Council and to the future regeneration of Slough, Iceni was involved in over two years of pre-application engagement with officers at Slough, where positive discussions were had resulting in the proposals submitted to planning. The proposals were submitted through an Outline Planning Application with all matters reserved in October 2021.

Eastgate Shopping Centre

Basildon

In September 2022, Iceni were delighted to receive a positive decision on a major urban development project in Basildon Town Centre, working on behalf of Infrared Capital Partners. The outcome followed a two-week public enquiry following an appeal against non-determination of the original planning application.

The appeal followed Iceni’s involvement as a supportive interested party in two other public inquiries in the calendar year for neighbouring developments, which were also allowed through the appeal process.

The scheme Iceni were involved in from point of conception to the granting of permission through the appeal decision in September 2022, was an outline application and comprised the redevelopment of a major part of the town centre. The proposals include the retention but consolidation of the exisiting shopping centre to provide a mix of uses and improvements to both the bus station and the public realm. The proposals range in heights up to 21-storeys to accommodate the provision of up to 2,800 new homes including student accommodation, later living and co-living.

The proposals and planning process were years in the making and will now move forward through reserved matters applications to develop and finesse the scheme design over the coming months and years. The process to date has been a true tribal effort, with planning, townscape and heritage and 5-year housing land supply at expert witness evidence provided at the inquiry, as well as EIA, archaeology and sustainability expertise given as part of the original application.

Crown House

LB of Barking & Dagenham

Iceni Projects acted on behalf of joint clients, Be First Ltd and Lightquote Ltd, to secure a Committee resolution to grant planning permission for 396 new homes and flexible commercial floorspace in Barking Town Centre. Be First Ltd are effectively the development arm of London Borough of Barking and Dagenham (LBBD) Council with a mandate to drive regeneration in the Borough.

The high-density development comprised a 20 storey and a 29 storey tower within close walking distance of Barking Station, on a site which was a key regeneration objective of LBBD.

The 396 units comprised 43% affordable housing; comprising a mix of low cost rented, affordable rented, and shared ownership units.

The design evolution of the scheme was informed by various site constraints including an adjacent Grade II listed Church, residential buildings and existing roads on three sides of the development effectively making it an island site. Working closely with the design team Iceni Projects sought to provide planning advice geared at maximising the development potential of the site whilst balancing the prevailing planning constraints to ensure a high-quality development could be delivered.

Anglia Square

Norwich

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.

St Giles Circus Camden

As part of its ongoing work for Consolidated Developments, Iceni obtained a resolution to grant planning permission from Camden Council in March 2016 for the latest set of amendments to the approved £90m St Giles Circus development in the West End, alongside a number of new planning permissions and listed building consents for the development of the site. Designed by architects Orms, the revised scheme includes the delivery of two new primary street buildings on St Giles High Street, Andrew Borde St and Charing Cross Road, as well as the refurbishment of two listed buildings on Denmark Place.

The larger of the two new buildings, which will total 9,290 sqm, includes a ground-breaking urban gallery which will provide a publicly accessible curated space incorporating 1,800 sqm of digital screens. The urban gallery will be used for a combination of brand launches, retail, advertising and screenings and will be operated in conjunction with a 2,000 person capacity music and events venue contained within a 2,800 sqm basement box underneath the site. The smaller building, which will total 4,650 sqm, will include a mix of retail, leisure, hotel and office use, with rooftop restaurants and bars.

Incorporating the music heritage of Denmark Street, St Giles Circus is a culturally significant site set to benefit from the £1bn transformation of Tottenham Court Road station and the arrival of Crossrail.

Iceni have now been advising on the project for over 5 years and are currently managing all planning aspects of the project as the construction process nears completion. Throughout the construction process we have managed the discharge of all planning conditions, S106 obligations, additional listed building consents and secured permission for multiple amendments through S96a and S73 applications, working collaboratively with the Council throughout.

Bircherley Centre

Hertford

The redevelopment of Bircherley Green Shopping Centre and bus station will provide a focal point of Hertford’s town centre.

On behalf of Diageo Pension Trust Ltd and in collaboration with Wrenbridge, Iceni Projects obtained planning permission on the 5th January 2018, from East Herts District Council (EHDC) for the mixed-use retail, hotel and residential development at the Bircherley Green Shopping Centre in Hertford. This development was later bought by Chase Homes where Iceni Transport continued to advise mainly on servicing and the bus station.

The Site is located within Hertford Town Centre and extends to 1.02 hectares and is located between Railway Street to the south, the River Lea to the north, Bircherley Street to the east and Bull Plain to the west, and has good access to local bus and rail facilities. Hertford bus station forms part of the site and is integral to any development proposals.

The development comprises 4,694 sqm of retail floorspace (Use Classes A1 to A5), an 86-bed hotel and 70 residential flats and includes the refurbishment of the existing car park in addition to enhancement of bus station facilities and new public realm. Enhanced bus capacity was also considered utilising additional stops on street.

The proposals have evolved through extensive consultation with key stakeholders including Hertfordshire County Council, EHDC and the local community, and it is anticipated that the redevelopment of the site will provide significant long term benefits to the wider area in the form of housing provision, retail opportunities and leisure facilities. The site will provide a modern, high quality and sustainable development in an accessible location.

Town Centre

Maidenhead

Iceni’s Transport and Sustainability teams successfully worked together on a major redevelopment scheme for part of Maidenhead Town Centre, known as the Chapel Arches Development. The plans were granted planning consent at the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead Council’s August 2013 planning committee.

The mixed use scheme comprises a total of 242 apartments, shops, café/restaurant uses and office floorspace. The redevelopment will also provide underground parking, a new footbridge over the York Stream, a replacement bridge to the Hines Meadow car park and re-location of two of the bus stops from the south to the north of Bridge Avenue.

It is envisaged that the redevelopment will contribute to the overall mix of uses within the Town Centre, improving the appearance and arrangement of the streets and contributing to the sustainable economic development and vitality of the town.

Iceni Transport specifically addressed matters regarding the potential traffic impact on the Town Centre’s road network, reduction in car parking, servicing arrangements and the inclusion of car lifts to serve the proposed basement car parking, whilst Iceni’s Sustainability team was involved in optimising the proposals for waste storage to both maximise Zone A floor space and ensure compliance with regulatory and other requirements.

Old Kent Road

Southwark

We are currently advised Toys R Us Properties (UK) Ltd on the redevelopment of the 760 Old Kent Road with a major new above station mixed use development.

The site represents a unique opportunity to bring forward an iconic development in the heart of one London’s most important regeneration areas. The site occupies a strategically important and prominent position within the Old Kent Road Opportunity Area and is surrounded by several high-profile development sites, that either have planning permission or are in the planning pipeline. Through these new developments and regeneration, the area will be transformed from an isolated former retail and industrial thoroughfare into one of London’s new thriving mixed use communities.

Being the future location of one of the Bakerloo Line Extension stations, 760 Old Kent Road represents one of the most important sites on the Old Kent Road. We led on extensive discussions and are worked collaboratively with the Council, GLA and TfL to bring forward multi-level mixed use development that will deliver a new Bakerloo Line underground station, a new town centre and public square, a significant number of new homes and commercial uses, all within a series of high density tall buildings rising up to 48 storeys.

St Enoch Glasgow

In Spring 2022, Iceni, acting on behalf of Sovereign Centros, submitted an application for planning permission in principle for the redevelopment of the St Enoch Centre. The proposals are to create a vibrant, sustainable, mixed-use development focusing on retail, leisure, entertainment, hotel, office and city centre living.

The St Enoch Centre was built as a covered shopping centre in 1989 and has since become a prominent destination as part of the Glasgow city centre shopping and leisure scene. However, as with retail centres across the country, changes to consumer demands and shopping habits have accelerated in recent years, with alternative options for the site now being explored. The existing building is highly inefficient, offers limited flexibility for refurbishment to accommodate alternative uses and occupies a significant area of the city, restricting movements between the city centre and the River Clyde. The masterplan proposals are for the phased demolition of the existing Centre and its replacement with new urban blocks to accommodate a mix of city centre uses and reinstation of the street grid pattern. The demolition of the existing Centre has not been proposed lightly, with alternative options for the maintenance and adaptation being explored first.

The application for planning permission in principle was granted, subject to conditions, by Glasgow City Council on 1st June 2023.The proposed development will take place in phases and bring wideranging benefits to the City of Glasgow, providing new connections through the site, greening an urban area and enhancing public realm provision, creating fit-for purpose retail accommodation as well as highly sustainable new homes and workplaces. In total, the development should deliver up to 2.5 million sqft of floorspace across the mix of uses.

The redevelopment is already one step closer to commencing with Glasgow City Council approving proposals for the conversion of the former Lewiss department store on Argyle Street (most recently occupied by Debenhams), to office space with a new rooftop restaurant. The conversion of the Category B Listed building to Grade A office space, minutes from Glasgow Central, Argyle Street and Queen Street train stations, will be a huge boost to the city centre and would form an initial phase of the masterplan.

The St Enoch masterplan has seen a multi-disciplinary effort from Iceni with Planning, EIA, Heritage, Transport, Socio-Economics and Health and Archaeology services all being provided.

Melton Mowbray Masterplan

Melton

Iceni Projects were appointed by Melton Borough Council to provide advice on 8 council owned sites, the work included engagement with key stakeholders, preparing a series of masterplan options and soft market testing.

The work resulted in an c.£1M funding deal from the Midlands Engine with Iceni drafting the bid and preparing a detailed action plan which is now being taken forward.

On the strength of the work we were subsequently appointed to undertake a review of employment land, providing detailed masterplans and an economic review. We also undertook a COVID-19 impact survey, drafting a set out proposed interventions to revitalise the high street with a series of interventions that are now being implemented successfully.

Finally, we drafted a town centre masterplan for the authority and partners, which supported their recent successful Levelling up Funding bid.

St Helier Waterfront Masterplan

Jersey

Iceni led the engagement programme for the St Helier masterplan, engaging Island wide on large scale development proposals to create new additions to the St Helier waterfront including a new National Art Gallery, seaside amphitheatre, boardwalk pier and new outdoor public 50m saltwater pool. Over 1,000 new homes are proposed with ground floor commercial space.

A key aim of the proposal was to address the existing disconnect between the waterfront and the town centre.

We created a people focussed consultation website, with videos and a rich selection of material for views to engage with. This included plinths along with waterfront with QR codes, allowing the community to view a 360-degree videos of the proposals giving an experience akin to virtual reality.

A programme of engagement was also rolled out within local schools.

North Street

Guildford

The development proposals include the regeneration of the Friary Quarter in the town centre of Guildford. Iceni Transport engaged with Guildford Borough Council, Surrey County Council and local bus operators over a period of nearly five years. We have designed and collaborated with architects to develop a pedestrianised scheme along North Street, enhanced cycle facilities and a new bus interchange to significantly improve active and sustainable travel in the town centre and beyond.

To deliver the scheme, existing roads through the site will need to be stopped up, local roads converted from one way to two way and new and upgraded pedestrian crossing facilities around the site are proposed to increase permeability through the town centre.

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

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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 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. Time has been spent seconded to developers providing in-house planning advice on a range of issues covering both strategic planning and development control proposals. Consultancy services are provided to international retailers, property funds, volume housebuilders and student accommodation providers, as well as urban developers looking to maximise opportunities. Advice is provided regarding traditional development opportunities as well as portfolio and asset optimisation, seeking to advise on the most commercial and realistic outcome for clients.

Nick Walker Director, Built Townscape & Heritage

T: 0141 473 7338

M: 07442 709 956

E: nwalker@iceniprojects.com

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long career as a practising architect allows Nick to work collaboratively across many disciplines as a ‘critical friend’.

Nick is Iceni’s Built Heritage and Townscape Director in Scotland. He has a passion for making our cities more sustainable and more enjoyable to live in, whilst tackling inequalities within our built environment, the spaces between our buildings and the infrastructure that makes our cities function.

Nick joined Iceni to lead and grow the firm’s Built Heritage and Townscape team north of the border, bringing his comprehensive local knowledge of Scotland’s central belt cities, an understanding of statutory authorities within Scotland, and a wealth of experience of working with complex stakeholder groups, a variety of clients including many housing associations, and contractors. Nick is a team player and enjoys working collaboratively to help design teams find the best outcomes for all projects, supporting and guiding the design process in relation to heritage and townscape.

As an Architect, Nick led several multi award-winning, large scale urban regeneration and masterplanning projects, which set out to repair and regenerate the urban fabric at a city scale. Many of these projects dealt with heritage assets and complex townscape settings, and required a wide and detailed understanding of context, character, and place.

Philippa Curran Director, Engagement

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07795 614 307

E: pcurran@iceniprojects.com

Philippa has the ability to work successfully with communities and local authorities to deliver high quality projects.

Philippa is an experienced consultant with over 15 years’ experience in the field of strategic planning and engagement. She has been responsible for a range of planning, engagement and masterplanning work in the UK with extensive experience of public engagement and participation, preparing masterplans, development feasibility studies and regeneration strategies. She is an experienced project manager and regularly assists in brokering relationships between the public and private sector.

Philippa oversees a number of the growing public sector commissions within Iceni.

Recent project experience includes assisting The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to engage with communities in North Kensington, supporting engagement work in relation to the preparation of Joint Strategic Plans and preparing a number of masterplans and delivery strategies for key sites in Melton for Melton Borough Council. Her wider experience includes the Leatherhead town centre masterplan and delivery strategy for Mole Valley, the Caterham town Supplementary Planning Document for Tandridge District Council and the Twickenham Area Action Plan for The London Borough of Richmond, all of which are now in the process of being delivered. She has written numerous articles for trade press on the future of town centres and the high street.

Helen Allan Associate, Planning

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07795 447 976

E: hallan@iceniprojects.com

Helen is an experienced project manager of planning technical teams and offers planning expertise through the lifecycle of the planning process.

Helen is a Chartered Associate Town Planner and enjoys engaging with stakeholders and design teams to secure high quality and viable schemes for her clients. She has worked in both the private and nonprofit sectors and her focus has largely been on the regeneration of brownfield sites in London and the Southeast of England delivering medium to large scale mixed-use developments, including residential, offices, hotel, leisure, health care, as well as estate regeneration.

She has experience in successfully leading and managing planning applications including presenting schemes at design team meetings and pre-application meetings with local planning authorities. She has played key roles in large multidisciplinary teams, offering sound planning advice and has a good understanding of balancing a client’s brief alongside planning policy requirements.

Helen’s strengths include commercial awareness, project management, a calm and level-headed approach to planning problems and strong client communication skills.

Matias Iversson Piazza Associate, Urban Design

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07721 232 114

E: mpiazza@iceniprojects.com

Matias’ enthusiastic and holistic approach to design engages a wider audience helping provide innovative solutions to his clients.

Matias is an urban designer, researcher, and architect with experience in masterplanning and placemaking with a particular interest in exploring the boundaries between architecture and city-making. He has a broad understanding of the built environment field, drawing from a background in international and multidisciplinary work environments and academia.

He has broad experience working with both public and private sector clients. Recent experience includes projects in the areas of town centre regeneration, mixed-use masterplanning, new garden towns and design coding – including NMDC pathfinders. A passionate advocate of collaborative design, he is always seeking creative ways to engage with key stakeholders and local communities to develop comprehensive solutions to address complex challenges.

Matias joins Iceni after a five-year tenure at Farrells, providing him with invaluable experience in developing strategic masterplans and spearheading urban regeneration projects. He holds a MSc in Urbanism from TU Delft, the Netherlands, where he explored the relationship between big infrastructure and sustainable urban development in Altamira, Brazilian Amazon.

Richard Jay Associate, Transport

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07772 157 072

E: rjay@iceniprojects.com

Richard has developed a good knowledge of transport planning through involvement in a wide variety of projects across various uses.

Having benefitted from circa 5 years’ experience as a Transport Planner, Richard has developed a good understanding of all stages of the planning process from feasibility and scoping, through to post permission. Richard provides a day to day involvement on a wide range of projects across various uses, including Residential, Retail, Commercial and Education and has therefore worked with major house builders and developers.

His main area of work focusses on the preparation of Transport Assessments and Statements, Travel Plans, Technical Notes required for obtaining planning permission, and works alongside architects in order to produce site layouts that work technically from a highways / transport perspective. Richard also has good experience in liaising with both the project team and the decision makers to ensure projects run smoothly.

Matthew Bacon Engineer, Transport

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07877 308 747

E: mbacon@iceniprojects.com

After spending 6 years working within the property industry for Countrywide, Matthew joined Iceni Projects as a transport technician in October 2018.

Since joining, he has provided the transport team with valuable support in multiple areas. His main responsibilities include swept path analysis, technical design, undertaking research, analysing data and preparing drawings for a variety of projects. Matthew is a motivated and enthusiastic member of the team who is quickly developing his AutoCAD skills and is eager to grow in his role as a transport technician by continuing to gain experience working on a wide variety of different schemes.

Jack Miller Planner, Planning

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07823 457 323

E: Jmiller@iceniprojects.com

Jack joined Iceni Projects as an Assistant Planner in April 2022, having gained a Distinction in MSc City Planning at the University of Glasgow the previous year.

Jack started his career at Iceni in the Edinburgh office, working on a range of projects across Scotland and providing additional support to the team in Glasgow. He has now moved London, joining Iceni’s London Planning Team on a permanent basis from January 2024.

His main roles include preparing planning statements and assisting with the preparation and submission of planning applications. He is also responsible for undertaking site appraisals and conducting planning policy reviews for various projects.

In addition to his MSc studies, Jack has an undergraduate degree (BSc Hons) in Finance and Statistics, also from the University of Glasgow. He is a licentiate member of the RTPI and is working towards the submission of his L-APC in the first half of 2024.

Stephen McLeod Project Manager, Archaeology

T: 020 3640 8508

M: 07799 370 715

E: smcleod@iceniprojects.com

Stephen is passionate about the impact archaeology can make in securing support for planning applications and delivering public benefit.

Stephen joined Iceni Projects in March 2020, having spent more than ten years in the field as a ‘dirty boots’ archaeologist for numerous commercial archaeology units in Ireland and the UK, along with working a range of research and training roles for museums, universities and in partnership with community outreach groups.

While at Iceni, he has assisted clients on a wide range of projects leading to successful applications involving complex urban development, large rural infrastructure schemes, Masterplanning with a focus on the promotion of archaeology to create a sense of place and Environmental Impact Assessment. Stephen uses his in-depth knowledge of the profession to provide pragmatic, yet innovative input into project designs.

Stephen has also created and delivered hands on engagement strategies which highlight the importance and wide-reaching benefit of archaeology, with particular attention to archaeology as a placemaking tool, allowing stakeholders and local communities to interact and enhance their understanding of the Historic Environment. As the engagement lead for the UCLHC development of the Strand Union Workhouse, Stephen has put particular focus on using inventive delivery mechanisms including, popular publications, the media and advancing archaeology within the construction and planning sector.

Introduction Our Projects

Our People Added Value

Added Value: Place

Sites don’t start with, and aren’t defined by, planning policy. They’re defined by people. And people bring a melting pot of ideas and opinions.

Not everyone will necessarily share the view that a site needs developing, regenerating or renewal, especially in areas undergoing massive amounts of change or those where nothing has happened despite the will to see it happen.

They are sites that often mean more to people than an abstract red line on an OS plan, where physical and social barriers override site boundaries. Where people have a connection to their incidental bit of city they call home.

They have a past, they have a present and a future. Just like people.

Iceni Place delivers an approach that welcomes all of these views, fears, hopes and dreams into a collaborative process built on listening. It starts with people, asking “What does success look like to you?” and ends with a legacy of better places.

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.