News in brief: Allsee Technologies submits digital technology centre plans; Next stage of Design Code Pathfinder Programme launched

Allsee Technologies submits digital technology centre plans

Allsee Technologies has submitted a planning application to build an 80,000-square-foot office headquarters and digital technology centre at St. Modwen’s Longbridge Business Park.

After a £20 million investment, the new building will support the creation of more than 150 skilled jobs.

Subject to the planning permission being granted, construction work is due to start in summer 2024 with an opening scheduled for late 2025.

Next stage of Design Code Pathfinder Programme launched

The Office for Place has launched the next phase of the Design Code Pathfinder Programme.

It will focus on testing the implementation of design codes in planning decision-making.

Up to five new design code pathfinders will be selected by the Office for Place, and they will receive a share of up to £0.5 million to review, update and expand an existing design code in line with the National Model Design Code.

Local authorities from across England that have an adopted design code, or equivalent (the local authority has set clear, precise requirements) to understand its impact through the development management process.

Proposals are sought from local authorities with design codes that have ideally been adopted for five or more years, however, the Office for Place will consider expressions of interest where design codes have been adopted for less than this if there is sufficient evidence of it being used as part of the planning decision-making process.

More information about the call for expressions of interest can be found on the UK Government website. 

Brighton Marina consultation opens

Brighton & Hove City Council has launched a six-week consultation for residents and businesses to give their views on a new neighbourhood plan for Brighton Marina.

The draft plan was prepared by Brighton Marina Neighbourhood Forum under the government’s neighbourhood planning regulations. Once this consultation has been completed the plan will be submitted to an independent examiner appointed by the council.

More information, including all the consultation documents and how to submit comments online, can be found on the Brighton Marina Neighbourhood Plan website and the forum’s website.

The deadline for comments to be made is 11:59pm on 18 March 2024.

Government agrees £1.1bn rural broadband contracts

The government has agreed on contracts worth around £1.1 billion to connect 677,000 rural homes and businesses across England to “lightning-fast” broadband known as Project Gigabit.

Six new contracts worth more than £450 million will allow suppliers to immediately begin detailed surveying work to connect about 236,000 premises across England.

Five of these latest contracts will be delivered by broadband provider CityFibre, serving rural communities in Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Sussex, Kent, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, and Milton Keynes.

A further contract to upgrade premises in Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire has been awarded to Hull-based supplier Connexin.

The first premises are expected to be connected in early 2025.

McLaren Living selected to deliver Minster Quarter Central scheme

Reading Borough Council has selected McLaren Living to deliver the £250 million Minster Quarter Central scheme.

The 5.2-acre site, in the centre of Reading and formerly occupied by the Civic Centre, will become a new gateway to and from Russell Street, the Castle Hill Conservation Area and the residential areas of west Reading.

The proposals are intended to deliver a mixed-use community, incorporating a positive street scene and places for people to shop, eat and enjoy Reading’s arts and culture. Current plans include the re-provision of space for the Charter Market on Hosier Street and an improvement of its new public realm surrounding the Reading Minster.  

Proposals also include the regeneration of Dusseldorf Way, creating a key new boulevard with more street trees and places to sit.

The development is central to the wider Minster Quarter Regeneration Area, which has the potential to create a new mixed-use neighbourhood in Reading town centre, delivering upwards of 1,200 homes.
 

Kidlington infrastructure plans approved

Cherwell District Council has approved the delivery of new infrastructure in Kidlington called the Kidlington Infrastructure and Community Asset Strategy.

The programme will complete a trio of place-based programmes for the district, following the example of Banbury Vision 2050 and the Reimaging Bicester work being done in connection with the Garden Town programme.

Work to drive forward the Kidlington project will be funded from the council’s budget, but in future years will increasingly make use of developer contributions. These are funds provided by housing developers under legal agreements linked to planning permissions to build new homes, places of work, and other infrastructure.

The programme will have full-time officer support, with a new role being created to manage a strategic oversight board including the town, district and county councils to coordinate with the community, developers, and other stakeholders.

THRIVE pumps €120m into Irish town centres  

THRIVE, a Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, will fund €120 million to support local authorities and citizens to transform publicly owned vacant or derelict heritage buildings.

The scheme, co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union, will provide local authorities with funding of between €2 million and €7 million to renovate, refurbish and adapt vacant and derelict heritage buildings in town centres.

THRIVE promotes a citizen-centred, community-led approach to planning, design and project selection under the Town Centre First framework. Grants of between €40,000 and €200,000 are available to support local authorities with the planning and design phase.

It is targeted at larger urban settlements including cities, regional growth centres and key towns.

Outline permission sought for 200 homes in Lancaster

Wrenman Strategic Land Ltd is seeking outline planning permission for up to 200 homes on land off Powerhouse Lane in Lancaster.

The project is intended to contribute to meeting the increasing demand for high-quality housing in the district. Plans include affordable housing, a landscape-led design approach and improvements to current highways and drainage infrastructure.

Wrenman Strategic Land Ltd said it wishes to use “careful urban planning, green spaces, and high-quality architectural design to ensure a harmonious integration with the existing landscape and community”.

Irvine flats demolished

Demolition works at Irvine’s high flats are complete, with all five towers dismantled and the site fully cleared, North Ayrshire Council has announced.

The last tower to remain standing – Afton Court – was brought down late in 2023 and since then the site has been cleared of rubble and debris in preparation for the next stage of the regeneration project.

Tony Gurney, cabinet member for green environment and economy at North Ayrshire Council, said: “This is a major project which is transforming a key site in an important part of Irvine.

“We are looking forward to redeveloping this site to provide modern, energy-efficient homes which offer our residents a better quality of life.”

The next stage of the project will see homes for affordable rent delivered on the site, contributing to the council’s commitment to build more than 1,600 new council homes in every part of North Ayrshire.

Avant Homes exchanges contracts on North West site

Avant Homes has exchanged contracts on 20 acres of land in Great Eccleston.

Subject to planning permission, the housebuilder plans to deliver 115 energy-efficient homes with either two, three, four or five bedrooms.

Avant Homes said the scheme has a gross development value of £32 million.

Called Oakview Quarter, plans for the housebuilder’s mixed-use development also feature a primary school, medical centre, community centre and commercial and retail space.

Avant Homes acquired the site from Duchy Homes for an undisclosed sum with the benefit of a reserved matters planning permission and intends to submit a plot substitution application for its house types in March.