Planning Excellence and
Committed Collaboration
Employment
A message from our Head of Employment
|
As the UK embarks on a new path as an independent trading entity in the world, the future of the economy is dependent on the ability to produce goods and services both for our own needs and to export to the wider world. This involves the creation of new manufacturing capacity via efficient new production floorspace. In addition, with companies increasingly conscious of corporate sustainability and environmental targets and operational costs, there is an increasing mismatch in demand for sought after Grade A office space and now largely redundant Grade B space which needs to be redeveloped, often as part of a mixed use scheme. Finally to both support manufacturing but also as part of the retail supply chain, there is demand for more warehouse and distribution capacity across the UK. Each of the above presents both opportunities and challenges in terms of Planning whether this be scale and massing, or an appropriate mix of uses and the increasing adoption of policies which seek an element of affordable workspace to be provided as part of developments are a further challenge. DPP’s understanding of the key issues and experience of delivery of employment floorspace of all kinds across the UK allows us to assist you in delivery of projects and to be your trusted advisor on the journey. |
Best Practise Planning
DPP has extensive experience of delivering a range of employment projects:
- Office developments
- Industrial and warehousing developments
Our experience of working with clients in the employment sector means we can manage the entire process of planning an employment development, including environmental impact, sustainability and heritage issues. We prepare, submit and manage planning applications but we do so much more to ensure the best results are achieved within the prescribed program. This often starts with appraising and scoping projects well in advance of an application being submitted. Where required, we inform the assembly of a team capable of addressing the needs of the project before engaging with the planning authority and key stakeholders to ensure early ‘buy-in’. Where it is required, we also lead the public consultation process on schemes and manage the response.
Oatly, Peterborough
Client: Oatly c/o Integrated Food Projects Ltd
On behalf of Oatly, the Swedish oat drink company, DPP were instructed to secure planning consent for its first UK factory, located in Peterborough.
The new factory, for which change of use consent was granted will take up occupation in an existing warehouse building and modifications and additions are currently underway. Once completed, the Oatly factory will total 41,132sqm making it one of the world’s largest plant-based dairy factories and will provide an end-to-end solution for Oatly to supply the local area with at least 200 new jobs.
In order to ensure planning permission was granted in line with a strict client programme, DPP engaged in pre-application dialogue with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) and with Local Councillors to ensure all queries and considerations were addressed ahead of the planning application being submitted.
During the application determination period DPP coordinated correspondence between the Council’s Highways Department and the Applicant Team to overcome and address late requests for further information by the Highways Department, to ensure planning was granted in line with the Client programme
New Bailey, Salford
Client: English Cities Fund
DPP has been providing strategic planning advice to English Cities Fund for the Salford Central Masterplan since 2006 and has been instrumental in evolving the original vision into a viable and deliverable planning permission.
DPP originally submitted a hybrid (EIA) planning application for the wider Salford Central Masterplan area which comprised some 3.3 million sq.ft of office, commercial, retail and residential floorspace, across the 17 hectare city centre regeneration site.
Located on the banks of the River Irwell, New Bailey forms ‘Zone B’ of the Salford Central Masterplan which comprises a high quality corporate centre. The offices are all high grade and are supported by ancillary commercial uses an attractive public realm.
Following the approval of the original outline consent, DPP have gone on to secure reserved matters and full consent for One New Bailey (a BREEAM Excellent Grade A office), Two New Bailey Square (a BREEAM Excellent Grade A office), Three New Bailey (the home of the new HMRC office) Four New Bailey (a BREEAM Excellent Grade A office due for completion in 2023, for the new BT headquarters); and the New Bailey Multi Storey Car Park.
DPP’s long-standing relationship with the local planning authority has meant that we have been able to secure timely consents and have negotiated required amendments and discharge of conditions along the way.
The DPP team involved in this major regeneration project has delivered all that has been asked of it and on time and within budget, key considerations as far as the Fund is concerned.
Phil Mayall Managing Director, Muse
Howdens, Factory 10
Client: Howdens Joinery Ltd and JG Hatcliffe Property and Planning
Following Local Plan promotional work, DPP were instructed to secure planning permission for a new £45m manufacturing unit for use by Howdens Joinery to expand their current facilities in Howden, East Yorkshire
DPP have been instructed by Howdens Joinery Ltd to prepare and submit an application for a new industrial unit on land north of Howden. As the scheme was part of the submission for the wider HOW-G Masterplan, the application also required an Environmental Statement to be prepared and submitted alongside the application.
The new unit is to be occupied by Howdens Joinery to expand their current operations at their Howden Headquarters and it is proposed that the unit will be used primarily for manufacturing purposes. Howdens propose to use this building to bring back into the UK the manufacturing of certain cabinet doors which at present largely takes place in Italy.
Aykley Heads, Durham
Client: Durham County Council
DPP prepared and submitted a hybrid planning application for the demolition of County Hall and the subsequent development of a £400 million business park at Aykley Heads in Durham.
The site extends to approximately 60ha and is located to the north of Durham city centre. There were a number of complex issues associated with the site, including the parking options available, impacts on nearby heritage assets as well as Durham UNESCO World Heritage Site, and impacts on the Green Belt land in the east of the site.
DPP coordinated the production of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), as well as preparing and submitting a town centre sequential assessment and Green Belt sequential assessment, due to the location of the development.
DPP successfully managed the planning process from early pre-application discussions through to planning approval. This involved coordinating a complex project team, preparing planning strategies to advise the client on ways forward, coordinating and finalising technical documents such as an EIA and sequential assessments and addressed the above complex issues associated with the site. DPP liaised closely with the LPA throughout the process to secure planning permission.
Forrest Park, Newton Aycliffe
Client: Forrest Park (Newton Aycliffe) Ltd
DPP secured planning permission for the strategic employment site which will provide up to 163,450sqm of employment space and up to 3,000 new jobs for County Durham.
DPP were responsible for preparing and submitting an outline planning application for an Industrial and Trade Park (Class B1(c)/B2/B8) with ancillary office space, Hotel (Class C1), Pub (Class A4) and Roadside Restaurant and Retail units (Class A1/A3/A5) with petrol station (sui generis) and associated infrastructure including an electric power station, parking and landscaping at Forrest Park, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.
Following the outline permission DPP were appointed by Richardson Barberry Forrest Park Ltd to manage the reserved matters submission for the first phase of the development which has subsequently been approved.
The site covers an area of 55 hectares in size and is located just off the A1, Junction 59, to the south of the Aycliffe Business Park, to the west of the A167 Durham Road, and Newton Park Service Station, to the north of the A1 and to the east of the railway line.
DPP secured outline planning permission for the strategic employment site which will provide up to 163,450sqm of employment space and up to 3,000 new jobs for County Durham followed by securing reserved matters approval for Phase 1 of the development comprising 8no units and details of the ecological corridor on site.
Throughout both submissions, DPP successfully coordinated the planning application process, which included early pre-application engagement with the LPA and key consultees through to preparation and submission of the application and coordination of the team as well as managing the application through the determination process.
