Advisory Team for Large Applications

Developing a Vision: Unlocking Stalled Schemes

Ian White Southern Coordinator

Advisory Team for Large Applications

What is ATLAS

Advisory Team for Large Applications

Provides support on large scale projects (500+ units) when requested by Local Authorities

Provides impartial advice on large scale projects for benefit of all stakeholders

Advisory Team for Large Applications

Example: Gainsborough urban extension

PPA used to drive project Agreed vision & objectives Effective project management Structured and collaborative

approach to resolving key issues including viability

High level corporate support from council

Advisory Team for Large Applications

Key stages in addressing a viability gap

Be clear on vision & objectives

Test viability & identify extent of financial barriers

Explore, test and agree potential solutions

Agree planning tools to deliver solution

Implementation & delivery

1.

2.

3.

4.

Advisory Team for Large Applications

1. Vision and Objectives

Communicates expected outcomes

Drives forward a project Should have a good

evidence base Good baseline to test

outputs from viability against

Advisory Team for Large Applications

Contingent Deferred Obligations Potential where growth is expected Requires open book / acceptable valuation

approach and reappraisals over time Retains “total” / full contributions

required…...but acknowledges reduced “initial” contributions based on current day viability, with “deferred” future payments related to changes in values over time

4. Consider planning tools

Advisory Team for Large Applications

Viability tested at bottom of economic cycle, therefore uplift expected

Overall affordable housing parameters set at min. 10% & max. 25%

5% AH accepted in phase 2 to enable delivery of critical infrastructure

Viability to be independently reviewed following delivery of every 200 units

Example: Gainsborough affordable housing delivery

Advisory Team for Large Applications

Further Information

The ATLAS Guide:

Planning for Large Scale Development

www.atlasplanning.com

Responsive Planning Practices for Changing Economic Times

Advisory Team for Large Applications

Discussion

– Could agreeing an upfront vision be perceived as pre-determining the outcome?

– To what extent can the visioning stage speed up consideration of an application?

– How can developers be ‘tied’ to the vision once agreed?

– Can a vision be defined in pictures rather than words

– Do vision statements need to be distinctive as opposed to ‘any place any where’?