DPP AT UKREiiF
DPP are excited to be attending UK REiiF and joining our clients and contacts to continue to deliver and accelerate sustainable, inclusive, and transformational development to ‘level up’ those parts of the UK that need it most.
As a business, our vision is about working in collaboration with clients to find ways to overcome the increasing number of challenges which exist to delivering change in our towns and cities.
We set out below why we are the trusted advisors to the public sector, developers, investors, educators, and healthcare professionals. We are trusted by those accountable to the community they serve as well as those answerable to shareholders and investment funds. We offer planning excellence whatever your objective, delivering a 98% success rate across all our projects.
We are committed to collaboration to keep you on track. We understand that one of the most frustrating setbacks in any project is delay. That’s why we collaborate closely with you, the architects, the project managers, and the Local Planning Authorities to keep driving your project forward.
As an independent practice, we are free to work with the best people for your needs. We become key intermediaries in the project to unlock the possibilities of your estate or development plans. We listen closely to your objectives at the outset, and while our role is to execute the planning, we see it in the context of the overall aim. So we think beyond the ‘task’ and create strategies that achieve your vision expeditiously.
What follows is a brief overview of where we have delivered for our clients. Across sectors, throughout the UK and set against different challenges. We look forward to seeing you at UK REiiF and discussing how we can deliver for you.
Gareth Hooper – CEO
BEST PRACTISE PLANNING
- Build to Rent
- Education
- Purpose Built Student Accommodation
- Health and Well-being
- Private Residential Housing
- Leisure and Cultural Attractions
- Co-Living
- Affordable tenures
We advise at all stages of development from site identification and promotion to resolving complex planning issues and providing comprehensive documentation to support planning applications and appeals. However, before we even get to the point of talking about sites, we work with clients and contacts to understand their objectives and the barriers they might have to realising these. We forge partnerships between clients; the public sector and private sector, developer, and occupier to make projects happen.
With offices in London, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle, we have experts across the UK who can help you with your project. So wherever your project is based, you work with people who have specialist knowledge of the local landscape, and what it means for your sector.
Across the business, our planners have long-standing relationships with the local authorities. They have the inside track on the wider objectives in the area, and they know they right people to speak to. It’s our unique blend of technical acumen and respectful personal relationships that often allows us to get approval for projects, where other consultancies may fail.
Salford Central – Masterplanning Growth
Salford Central Masterplan Salford Central is a substantial masterplan-led regeneration scheme by English Cities Fund (the Fund), which DPP has provided strategic planning advice on since 2006.
Salford Central is a 17-hectare city centre regeneration site providing some 3.3 million sq.ft. office, commercial, retail and residential floor space which includes 1,400 apartments and townhouses and two hotels across 30 buildings.
DPP has been instrumental in working with the Fund, Salford City Council and a range of partners in evolving the original Vision in 2006 into a viable and deliverable planning permission which has seen 1.4 million sq.ft. constructed and over 700 homes built within the city centre. DPP has been retained as Planning Consultant on no fewer than 19 separate commercial and residential buildings.
Planned as ‘Salford Central’ the masterplan is evolving into distinct city neighbourhoods of New Bailey, Slate Wharf and the award-winning Timekeeper’s Square. DPP remains engaged by the Fund in further commercial and residential developments in the area.
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 – Development Director, English Cities Fund
Image: Broadway Malyan
Culture House, Sunderland – Culture at the Heart of Change
On behalf of Sunderland City Council and Gleeds, DPP were appointed to provide planning services in respect of proposals for Culture House; a new cultural community hub, primarily functioning as a library alongside events, creative and café spaces in Sunderland City Centre. The project is a crucial part of the Riverside Sunderland Masterplan and the Council’s strategy to renew and reshape the city centre.
DPP were responsible for co-ordinating and managing the planning application submission. This involved undertaking early pre-application discussions with the LPA and Historic England. DPP prepared the detailed planning application and liaised closely with the project team to obtain the information required to support the planning application and submitted the application within the required timescales.
Image: Faulkner Browns
Queens Buildings, Southampton – Re-Positioning Department Stores
DPP were appointed by Southampton Estates after they had received initially negative advice from the local planning authority about the prospects for the site.
The redevelopment of the vacant Debenhams site comprises 614 residential build-to-rent units as well as ground floor commercial uses. The scheme extended to 17 storeys, making it amongst the highest in the city whilst being located adjacent to Grade II* Listed parks.
DPP developed a planning strategy for the site and re-positioned the pre-application submission based on a design team which could address the concerns which had been raised. Utilising our relationship with senior planning, transport and design officers we were able to adjust the scheme to address concerns whilst balancing the viability of the proposals.
Initial concerns about the scale of development and public realm were addressed by DPP working closely with the project architect and senior officers. Crucially, DPP balanced these concerns with the viability of the proposals.
Image: Hodder and Partners
Quayside West, Newcastle – Unlocking Major Residential Growth in Cities
A residential-led mixed use development featuring 1,100 apartments, Quayside West will also incorporate a landmark hotel and up to 2,452 square metres of commercial floorspace for retail, food and drink, business and leisure with associated vehicle parking, pedestrian walkways, cycle routes and new landscaping, including public parks and open spaces.
DPP managed the planning process for the project which will create a community on the banks of the River Tyne. The proposals will serve residents and the surrounding neighbouring areas, with permission granted for facilities offering a range of uses including a cycle hub and small-scale shops including hairdressers, restaurants, cafes, offices, food stores and gyms.
Successfully addressing concerns about the scale of development proposed; the quality of design; as well as the ability of the proposals to support affordable housing and financial contributions, the development will form the newest urban landmark on the banks of the River Tyne.
Image: Faulkner Browns
Milburngate, Durham – Balancing Change with Preservation
On behalf of MGH Card Ltd, DPP were appointed to coordinate and prepare a planning application for a major mixed-use scheme on Durham’s riverfront as part of Durham Riverside Renewal.
The scheme includes residential, office, leisure and retail uses, plus significant improvements to the public realm. As the site is in views of a World Heritage Site (WHS) and is within a Conservation Area, Flood Zones 2 and 3, and air quality management area, DPP prepared (with technical input from other consultants) and project managed an Environmental Impact Assessment to support the application as well as securing permission for demolition of the existing buildings.
DPP has co-ordinated a complex project and consultant team and successfully demonstrated that although the site is located within the flood zone and within views of the WHS, the proposed development will be suitable in this location.
DPP provided us with expert technical planning advice on our Durham City flagship project, Milburngate. DPP helped us secure planning permission quickly on an intricate and detailed mixed use proposal which stands in a beautifully historic setting. I fully recommend DPP for their knowledge, local understanding and commercial planning advice. Chris Ives – Development director, MGH Card Ltd
Image: Faulkner Browns
Riverside, Sunderland – Employment Driving City Centre Vitality
On behalf of Sunderland Vaux Limited 1 (Legal & General and Landid), DPP provided planning services for the development of two office buildings on Plots 16-18 of the Riverside Sunderland Masterplan, comprising 14,275sqm of new office space. The development will result in the creation of c.1,800 high-quality private sector jobs which will in turn result in increased spend within Sunderland city centre which is within walking distance from the site.
The proposals required divergence from the Riverside Masterplan and DPP successfully justified this
DPP successfully managed the project team in order to ensure a prompt submission of the planning application. We worked collaboratively with both the LPA and the project team to address any issues which arose during the determination period of the application, and secured a timely planning permission for this major scheme within 8 weeks.
Image: Landid/L&G
Ralli Quays, Salford – Delivering Mixed Use Viable Alternatives
DPP have been appointed by Legal & General Investment Management to prepare, submit and manage a planning application for the development of a 19,700 sqm office block and 280-bed 4-star hotel at the former HMRC site in the heart of Salford.
DPP have been integral to the evolution of the proposals including taking a lead in the consultation on proposals with stakeholders prior to the submission of the application. DPP have provided advice regarding the stopping-up of the existing access across the site as well as managing the objections which have been received to this.
DPP’s long-standing relationship with the local planning authority has meant that we have been able to guide the development of the proposals and ensure that approval remains on programme. The application received a positive recommendation for approval at planning committee.
Image: EPR Architects
Aykley Heads, Durham – Public Sector Masterplanning for Employment Growth
On behalf of 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 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 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.
Image: Ryder Architecture
