Planning

At present, Britain’s planning system is a significant restriction on housing supply. Despite a number of Government-led initiatives that have taken place in recent times the planning process is generally slow and cumbersome. It now takes an average of 43 weeks for major sites to be determined according to the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU). It is an issue that a future Government must address as there is a broad consensus that we must improve the level of housebuilding to help meet the growing housing crisis.

Challenges

The planning system is vital for a healthy economy and for an attractive and sustainable environment. As ever the planning system has to reconcile the competing economic, social and environmental priorities, at national and local level, in the best possible way. Today, land acquisition and planning processes are increasingly complex and remain the biggest challenge to the adequate supply of consented land for development.

However looking ahead planning is likely to go through a period of transition and possibly radical change. The Conservative’s ‘Open Source’ or localist planning agenda is laudable in some ways such as giving incentives to local government to encourage development is a very positive step. However, there is a growing consensus that such an approach without local economic development targets could well mean limited development activity for the foreseeable future. To ensure a decent level of housing supply in the future we need localist principles in response to national housing policy.

The plan-led system that was introduced in 2004 is fundamentally very good, however we need to ensure that we move from this process and procedure based system, to one that is focussed on outcomes and delivery, in response to the locality. A responsible and effective planning system is required if we are to meet housing need.

Masterplanning

New development has a fundamental impact on people's quality of life. Therefore our master planning focuses on people and the environment. We recognise that sensitive master planning and high quality design and place making will provide new and regenerated communities which are a positive asset for local people for many years to come. They must also be ‘future proofed’ for climate change and changing demographics, and be flexible to support the inevitable predicted changes in lifestyle.

We achieve this through:

• Our masterplans which promote character in townscape and landscape by reinforcing locally distinctive patterns of development, landscape, vernacular and identity.
• Climate change considerations which are integrated into our spatial planning, and mitigation and adaptation measures are incorporated.
• Ensuring our masterplans create a highly attractive and safe public realm with clearly defined private areas.
• Creating landmarks to provide orientation and character, and well defined streets and building layouts to enhance connectivity and permeability to local services.
• Promoting diversity and choice through a mix of building typologies and tenures, as well as uses, that work together to create viable places that respond to the needs and aspirations of the local community.
• Complementing existing habitats, increasing biodiversity and creating new landscaped spaces on our developments. Indeed, during the reporting period we planted 91,275 (2008: 102,000) new trees and shrubs. This slight reduction is primarily due to the reduced level of development activity during 2009.

Mixed-tenures and uses

In our schemes we are integrating mixed-tenure housing with retail, leisure, recreational, community and office uses to create strong communities. Such mixed-use schemes create new jobs and inward investment, thereby ensuring their long-term viability. Going forward there is likely to be an increasingly wide range of tenures within affordable housing.

We understand how to bring people, groups and organisations together to help ensure that our schemes are socially sustainable. We also understand the management requirements of major schemes and have successfully introduced long-term management arrangements into them. For example the creation of a Community Trust at Greenwich Millennium Village in London has served as a model for schemes that we are creating. Greenwich Millennium Village Management Limited was set up to be responsible for the long-term management of the development and it will ultimately be owned by the residents. Thus they will determine the standards they require in the future.

Building a Greener Future: policy statement

Since 2007, the Government has been committed to the Building a Greener Future: policy statement. This policy statement confirms the Government's intention for all new homes to be zero carbon by 2016 with a major progressive tightening of the energy efficiency building regulations by 25 per cent in 2010 and by 44 per cent in 2013, up to the zero carbon target from 2016. A key constituent of this policy is the Code for Sustainable Homes (Code) which outlines trajectories for new homes in England to meet the highest standards of sustainability in Europe. We are making good progress towards meeting the requirements of the Code which will be driven through planning policy and enhancements to Building Regulations.

The Government’s ambition as outlined in the 'Zero carbon for new non-domestic buildings Consultation on policy options' (November 2009) that all new non-domestic buildings should be zero carbon from 2019, is cognisant.

Every stakeholder has a part to play in delivering sustainable communities. The development industry faces a highly complex challenge of balancing the need for sustainable homes, buildings and places, whilst producing more new homes in response to the Government’s highly ambitious targets, particularly for affordable housing. This however, can only be achieved through greater collaboration, more joined-up Government policy and building regulations, and a shared understanding of development economics.

Memberships & initiatives

The following initiatives and memberships have informed and continuously influence and develop our commitment to, and understanding of, sustainable development:

• Our Chairman was a member of the Kent Thameside Delivery Board and the Medway Renaissance Partnership. Both organisations bring together public and private sector interests to help deliver sustainable regeneration projects in Thames Gateway Kent.
• Our Head of Sustainability is a member of Sustainability East which is a ‘champion body’ that works to promote sustainable development throughout the East of England.
• The Group’s Chairman was also a member of the Manchester Salford Pathfinder Board. This is one of nine housing market renewal partnerships nationally that have developed comprehensive programmes of neighbourhood regeneration in order to revive existing communities and housing markets.
• We continue to collaborate with the Zero Carbon Hub on its various workstreams in developing the ‘Definition of Zero Carbon Homes’ and engaging with them on revisions to Building Regulations and the ‘Code for Sustainable Homes’.
• We attended the UK Green Building Council’s and the Zero Carbon Hub’s ‘Sustainable Community Infrastructure’ Task Group which has now produced its recommendations and findings for Government and the Industry.
• We are working with and attending the New Build Group of the Energy Efficiency Partnership for Homes and Sustainable Construction East, both of which are focussing on the delivery of the Government’s ‘Building a Greener Future: policy statement’ and other applicable policies.
• We are members of Greening the Gateway Kent and Medway Strategy Group which is a strategic approach to the development of green infrastructure in Kent and the Thames Gateway in response to growth and urban regeneration.
• We are also members of the NHBC Standards Committee whose remit it is to lead the industry to deliver higher technical standards.

Richard Pemberton, Director, Trumpington Farm Company

Skyline 120, Braintree, Essex

Christian Fields, Gravesend, Kent

Beaulieu Park, Chelmsford, Essex

Fortuna Park, Colchester, Essex

Lock 38, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffs