TRACK 1NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FOR BUSINESS

How can businesses engage in Business Neighbourhood Planning, what are the advantages of them doing so and what are the implications for

the character and quality of place at the City scale?

Neighbourhood Planning Case Study

Maresa Molloy

Contents

• Background to “Business Neighbourhoods” and Frontrunners.

• LIPBNF The story so far….• Hurdles and Help• Issues and opportunities• Further information

Background to Business Neighbourhoods

• British Chambers of Commerce and British Property Federation – noted that neighbourhoods were presumed residential.

• Amendment to Localism Bill enabling businesses to bring forward NPs and NDOs

• Take a lead and have a vote – where an area is wholly or predominantly business in nature.

• 8 Business Neighbourhoods frontrunners identified including; Milton Keynes, Trafford Park, LIP, Team Valley Trading Estate, Bankside, Southbank & Waterloo, New West End Company and Aldershot town centre.

Liverpool Innovation Park Business Neighbourhood Area

The Area• Entirely business populated• 60 businesses, 2,500

employees.• 800,000 sq ft commercial &

business• 4 key zones - LIP reception

& main building, Wavertree Tech Park, Littlewoods Site, Development sites

• Edged by areas of social deprivation.

LIPBNF The story so far…

• May 2011 – put forward expression of interest to become frontrunner (LCC, Ashtenne, Chamber)

• Localism Act (Nov 2011)and NP regulations came into force July 2012.

• Stakeholder Engagement (Dec 12 – April 13) via Liverpool Chamber.

• Assembled Shadow Forum and Constitution.• Area application submitted Aug 2013, approved Oct

2013• Forum application submitted Feb 2014…• Community Engagement stage

The Hurdles

• Unchartered territory• Questions on process – area designation, forum eligibility and

designation etc• Changes in ownership and management within the park• Building a team (forum)• Council process – multiple directorates • Awareness & understanding

The Helps

• £20k frontrunner funds• Good relationship with Local Planning team, support has been

forthcoming.• Locality Guidance, funding & direct support• Positive relationship with DCLG, networking with other areas.• Good business engagement and direct support with venues,

butties, planning expertise, webhosting and design.• Project management / Chamber support

Images of the area

The issues

• Strategic; key employment site, identity / purpose, infrastructure upgrades.

• Landowners; attracting new tenants and keep existing, improved services, flexibility in landuse classifications, small scale extensions.

• Businesses; safety & security, empty units, signage and fencing, design, parking and transport (movement & access)

• Residents and Cllrs; Transport and access to employment.

Opportunities

• Create a new vision for the area.• Remove the need for planning permission for some

development.• Grant planning consent for specific sites – Neighbourhood

Development Order• Make the case for new facilities and amenities required by

local people.• Remove planning obstacles for potential tenants and investors.• Influence infrastructure spend in the area via the Community

Infrastructure Level (CIL)• Identify non-planning related projects that would benefit the

area.• Enable sustainable growth.

Further information

Liverpool Innovation Park Business Neighbourhood Forum www.lipbnf.org.uk

Maresa Molloy Public Affairs maresa@mmpa.co.ukTel: 07753 691 984

Further information & Support

#neighbourhoodplanning

www.locality.org.ukwww.mycommunityrights.org.ukplanningguidance.planningportal.gov.ukwww.ourneighbourhoodplanning.org.ukwww.neighbourhoodplanning.biz

How can businesses engage in Business Neighbourhood Planning, what are the advantages of them doing so and what are the implications for

the character and quality of place at the City scale?