Planning for Growth Planning Services
Photo credits Page 7: Brent Civic Centre, UK (top) - photo courtesy of Morley von Sternberg Page 9: Anglesey Energy Island Framework, UK (top left) - photo courtesy of Croeso Cymru/Visit Wales Page 10: Anglesey Energy Island Framework, UK (top) - photo courtesy of Croeso Cymru/Visit Wales
URS is proud to be celebrating 100 years of the Royal Town Planning Institute as RTPI London Centenary Sponsor
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
PLANNING FOR PROSPERITY AND GROWTH
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TOWN PLANNING
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MASTERPLANNING 8 ECONOMICS AND DEVELOPMENT
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PLAN-MAKING AND SPATIAL PLANNING
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SUPPORT THROUGHOUT THE BUSINESS CYCLE
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Planning for Prosperity and Growth The planning system will continue to play a critical role in delivering the infrastructure, jobs and homes needed for a stable and sustainable economy. Viability and deliverability are essential for successful development.
Development must balance economic, environmental and social needs by delivering the right type of development to the right areas – in a way that is both sustainable and responsive to the needs of local communities. Innovative thinking and ‘partnership working’ will play an important role. URS is at the forefront of UK government planning policy as seen in our work on large urban extensions using Garden City Principles and our work in developing policy for sustainable communities. We are also experienced in local planning, and deliver neighbourhood planning support across England as part of the Government’s initiative under the Localism Act. Our understanding of emerging planning policy is underpinned by decades of practical experience in successfully delivering development consents across the UK. This expertise, underpinned with a local knowledge of the communities in which we operate, means we are ideally placed to undertake a key role in development teams.
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We have a long history working in both private and public sectors, and our planners have a regulatory or plan-making background. This balanced perspective benefits our clients during the planning process to reduce uncertainty and minimise the risk of delay. URS works collaboratively to develop tailored, effective planning strategies and implement client requirements. Our planners appreciate the needs of communities and their aspirations for growth at the micro level, along with the wider strategy for large-scale growth at the macro level. With planning issues we must balance stakeholder interests to achieve commercial aspirations in a manner that reflects the genuine needs of the community. The end result is a development that will foster a mutually beneficial relationship between developers and investors, the local authority and the local community.
URS’ INTEGRATED SERVICES INCLUDE TOWN PLANNING, MASTERPLANNING, ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AND PLAN-MAKING/SPATIAL PLANNING.
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St David’s Centre, Cardiff (left); Clarendon Arcade, Leamington Spa (above); Brent Civic Centre, London (right)
Town Planning Effective planning strategies are needed to unlock development potential and deliver growth and prosperity. Recent changes to planning legislation and guidance have reduced the burdens of ‘red tape’ and increased the flexibility and responsiveness of the system. Nevertheless, navigating the planning process can still present numerous challenges. URS helps clients manage this process so that development schemes progress to the delivery phase. We provide full lifecycle services across the development timeline from initial site viability and due diligence to the strategic promotion of land, the preparation and submission of planning applications, through to on-going monitoring and discharge of planning conditions. We provide strategic coordination and project management of the town planning process. Our planners also have access to a wide range of multidisciplinary expertise in-house, including urban design, transport planning, environmental disciplines and engineering services. This lifecycle, multidisciplinary approach means we can efficiently and proactively highlight and address risks 6
early in the process to avoid potentially expensive delays during delivery. It also gives us flexibility to tailor planning strategies to suit the requirements of each client and project. Understanding the dynamics of a local planning authority, as well as the local community and surrounding areas, is critical to success. URS has teams located in regional offices across the UK and we’re proud of our local knowledge and experience. We have established relationships with local planning authorities, statutory agencies and other stakeholder groups. This local perspective helps deliver positive outcomes for our clients by delivering planning strategies that balance the needs of the local community, planning authorities and private investors. URS has helped deliver planning consents for a variety of projects, including mixed use, leisure, residential and manufacturing.
Woodberry Down Estate, Hackney URS was appointed by Hackney Council to lead the planning strategy, environmental impact assessment, and transport and infrastructure proposals to support an outline planning application for a business and community development including over 4,500 new homes.
Thames Tunnel, London URS supported the application for a Development Consent Order with planning and environmental expertise, including site selection methodology and public engagement.
Sherford New Community, Plymouth This major development in the south-west of England is for 5000 new homes and supporting business and community infrastructure. URS helped establish the principle of development and subsequently secured the detailed development programme by way of an Area Action Plan.
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Kings Dock View (left); Illustrative masterplan for Manydown, Basingstoke (above); Woodbrook Masterplan (right)
Masterplanning A successful development project needs a well-structured masterplan that balances the aspirations of developers, owners, planning authorities and the local community. Members of URS’ masterplanning team have developed best practice policy and design approaches for over 15 years. This track record of setting the policy agenda at the national level includes studies of Sustainable Residential Quality, the Use of Density in Urban Planning and a series of national urban design best practice guides. Our on-going support to government is demonstrated in taking forward the previous eco-towns programme, and now the Garden City Principles initiative, as advocated in the National Planning Policy Framework. We blend this strategic policy thinking with a deep understanding of urban design best practice. By challenging preconceptions, we shape design strategies that are both progressive and deliverable. Understanding what makes places work helps us deliver successful and sustainable communities. URS works from concept stage through to outline planning applications and beyond. We prepare masterplans at every level, from smaller infill sites, where the aim is to ‘stitch’ the urban fabric together, to large urban extensions and 8
new settlements. We work with existing communities to regenerate and improve the quality of existing neighbourhoods and also develop new and improved industrial and business districts. We excel in the masterplanning of large and complex projects using our bespoke Masterplanning ie methodology. This integrated and evidence-led approach draws on URS’ multidisciplinary capability to provide clients with a value added service that manages project risk and produces better outcomes for communities and places. By engaging with planning authorities and the local community, we help developers manage the masterplanning process in a way that achieves their economic objectives while delivering a positive, long-term legacy.
URS ENCOURAGES AN INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE BETWEEN ALL PARTIES, TO DEVELOP TRUST AND CREATE A LASTING, POSITIVE LEGACY.
Welborne, Fareham Having prepared a strategic masterplan for a 470ha site in South Hampshire, URS is now applying Garden City Principles to the design of the first phases in the development of the new community.
NaSA Area Action Plan This award-winning project forms part of an ambitious long term strategic vision to transform Newington and St Andrews (NaSA) into a “village in the city� - a place that provides for the day to day needs of its residents.
Warwick Garden Towns, Villages and Suburbs Prospectus URS prepared a Garden Towns, Villages and Suburbs prospectus to develop the vision for the District of Warwick. URS studied garden suburb neighbourhoods across Warwick and engaged key stakeholders to discuss how the approach could be applied today.
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Image courtesy of Croeso Cymru / Visit Wales
Economics and Development Through a practical and user-friendly approach, we deliver balanced regeneration solutions, underpinned by robust independent research. We help developers, planning authorities and development agencies rationalise land holdings and optimise land use. Whether small scale or high profile, we increase development potential so that development schemes embed perfectly within their social and economic context. We work to grow local and regional economies at both a strategic and project or programme level. Our experience in growth and development issues spans unemployment, health, skills, enterprise, innovation, education and training, community development, infrastructure and high growth sectors. This integrated, multidisciplinary perspective is coupled with a comprehensive understanding of the planning system. This means that we can offer robust advice on development viability and deliverability that unlocks development potential and promotes economic growth. 10
Driven by the growing awareness of global climate change, sustainability is now a focus for Government and a key consideration in both the strategic and development levels of planning. We advise on the economic and planning implications of climate change to local and regional government authorities, communities and developers across the UK. Our economics and development services support the town planning and masterplanning process. Their expertise includes market assessments, appraisals and impact assessments, strategies and funding, development feasibility advice, business plans and socio-economic assessment. We emphasise the importance of developing a robust evidence base to inform implementation and delivery.
ANGLESEY ENERGY ISLAND FRAMEWORK We reviewed the energy generating opportunities on Anglesey and assessed the potential economic impacts and benefits. The work examined possible investments in low carbon energy, decommissioning and nuclear new build and energy efficiency measures.
Thames Tunnel Socio-Economic Impact Assessment URS undertook a major socio-economic impact assessment of Thames Water’s proposals to build a new sewer tunnel under the River Thames, including the construction and operation of around two dozen receptor sites across London.
London Borough of Waltham Forest Strategic Infrastructure Plan URS led a team of consultants to develop a Strategic Infrastructure Plan to help identify, assess and plan for infrastructure needs over the LDF timeframe in accordance with PPS 12: Local Spatial Planning.
Water Framework Directive Measures Database We are researching and preparing a database on the cost-effectiveness of measures to implement the Water Framework Directive. The work will function as a tool for the Environment Agency and its partners to develop local catchment plan strategies.
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Plan-Making and Spatial Planning Local Plans provide the framework for growth and future prosperity. They should be based on realistic but aspirational visions to guide community development over the longer-term. Local Plans are central to delivering the spatial strategy and vision for an area and for promoting sustainable communities. They also provide the context for the preparation of neighbourhood plans and can reduce the risk of local authorities having to defend their areas against inappropriate development. Preparing sound Local Plans can be a significant challenge for planning authorities, particularly with constrained public sector expenditure and changes to the planning system. URS assists local authorities in negotiating the complexities of the plan-making process and preparing sound plans to manage future development and change. Our expertise covers all aspects of the plan-making process: scoping and evidence-based production, stakeholder engagement, appraisal and optioneering, plan production, design, delivery, adoption, monitoring and overall project management. We have specific and significant expertise and experience in sustainability appraisal and the strategic environmental assessment of Local Plans and other plan-making documents. We have developed a number of bespoke approaches to neighbourhood planning that are helping groups and their partners to move through the plan-making process and to translate aspiration, observation, feedback, evidence and challenges into strong neighbourhood plans. 12
Since 2007, we have worked with the Planning Advisory Service to advise local authorities on key aspects of plan preparation. We have worked with over 80 local authorities providing training workshops, document review and critical friend services. Particular areas of support include whole plan viability, training for elected members and reviews of emerging Local Plans. URS also engages with the Local Plan process on behalf of other public and private sector clients so they can realise their organisational and corporate objectives. We regularly draft responses to statutory Local Plan consultations and advise land owners and developers on the strategic promotion of land as part of a long term strategy for providing the conditions to deliver planning consents. We promote large urban sites and other significant land assets on behalf of a variety of clients so that the profile and benefits of their landholdings are at the forefront of future plans for growth. We work closely with our masterplanning and technical teams to address opportunities for positive integration and enhancement within the local context, and prepare robust studies to address any significant constraints to development.
ENNISKILLEN TOWN CENTRE MASTERPLAN Our integrated spatial planning and urban design skills were put to good use in the preparation of a framework for Enniskillen’s historic core. Our proposals for regeneration and growth are now guiding development opportunity.
KEY FACTS ABOUT URS •• Global environmental and engineering consultancy •• Bringing local expertise to global issues with over 50,000 employees in nearly 50 countries •• Over 3,000 sustainability and environmental specialists •• Senior professionals with extensive sustainability and environmental experience •• Client satisfaction demonstrated by high levels of repeat business •• Pragmatic and innovative solutions with clear business outcomes •• Master Service Agreements with nearly half of the FORTUNE 500 companies
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URS global office locations
Support throughout the business cycle As a global provider of fully integrated sustainability, engineering, construction and technical services, URS delivers services throughout the business and project lifecycle.
Our experienced environmental and sustainability practitioners work at both the strategic and technical levels, and integrate emerging policy and best practice in their planning solutions.
management skills are demonstrated through our successful delivery of projects on time and within budget. Our high level of repeat business is a testament to the quality of our work.
We provide services over a wide range of project size, value and complexities. We pride ourselves on our local knowledge, which is complemented by URS’ global network of expertise.
URS has an unwavering commitment to performing work safely, ethically and to the highest quality standards. Health, safety, quality and sustainability considerations are of prime importance to our company and essential to the efficient operation of our global business.
We focus on delivering innovative yet pragmatic advice that adds value to our clients’ businesses. Our project 15
For more information please contact: ukplanning@urs.com
URS Corporation is a leading provider of engineering, construction and technical services for public agencies and private sector companies worldwide. We offer a full range of programme management; planning, design and engineering; systems engineering and technical assistance; information technology; construction and construction management; operations and maintenance; and decommissioning and closure services for federal, oil and gas, infrastructure, power and industrial projects.
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