www.iceniprojects.com
iceni-projects
iceniprojects
iceniprojects
Introduction | A multi-skilled consultancy
HERTFORDSHIRE EXPERIENCE
Formed in 2005, Iceni is now the market leader and preferred consultancy for a fast-growing number of clients. We have always sought to provide the skills of an advisor with the instincts of a developer.
We achieve this by knowing our tradecraft – the technical skills that come through years of education and on-the-job experience that is recognised by professional accreditation. But it is also daring to be different; being proactive and thinking strategically. Our client relationships are built on trust, togetherness, enthusiasm, and a courage to challenge, where appropriate. The technical specialisms that the company hold have widened, but this fundamental objective remains the same. We are committed to putting our client’s interests first – and providing them with the tools to significantly improve their performance.
Iceni Projects have significant experience of working in Hertfordshire, spanning over many years. Our extensive knowledge and longstanding relationships with key stakeholders makes us best placed to advise on planning applications and land promotion in the county.
Beyond planning, we offer a variety of specialist services in the fields of archaeology; delivery; design; EIA management; engagement; heritage; sustainable development, townscape and transport . Our team are talented, relentless, intelligent, bold and experienced. Individually or collectively, you’ll know when you’re with Iceni Projects.
We have the expertise to deliver strategic planning at a sub-regional and local level, advising local authorities on evidence and strategy development across England. Our services include advising local authorities on aligning their evidence on housing need and economic growth, to deliver a collaborative approach to strategic planning.
Ian Anderson Chief Executive
To Iceni, thinking strategically is what we fundamentally believe to be the right way of doing things; to assess needs, evaluate constraints and maximise opportunities. It’s about having a strategic vision for a site, often looking beyond the immediate constraint of development management policies, and utilising a diverse range of skills to deliver large scale infrastructure and development projects.
Your Strategic Adviser
Birmingham
The Colmore Building
20 Colmore Circus
Birmingham, B4 6AT
T: 0121 262 4148
Edinburgh
14-18 Hill Street
Edinburgh, EH2 3JZ T: 0131 370 3486
London
Da Vinci House
44 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH
T: 020 3640 8508
Glasgow
201 West George Street
Glasgow, G2 2LW
T: 0141 465 4996
Manchester
WeWork, Dalton Place
29 John Dalton Street
Manchester, M2 6FW
T: 0161 509 2840
The Team Structure of Iceni
DESIGN
Ian Anderson Chief Executive
Andrew Gale Chief Operating Officer
James Bompas Director | Business Devt. & Strategic Planning
ARCHAEOLOGY
Claire Cogar Director
BUILT HERITAGE & TOWNSCAPE
Laurie Handcock Director
Nick Walker Director
Jonathan Stewart Director
Paul Drew Director
ECONOMICS
Nick Ireland Director
Matt Kingham Director
Paul McColgan Director
ENGAGEMENT & PLACE
Gemma Gallant Director
Philippa Curran Director
IMPACT MANAGEMENT
James Jaulim Director
Sam Griffiths Director
Silke Gruner Director
PLANNING
Callum Fraser Director
Chris Jones Director
Gary Mappin Director
Ian Gallacher Director
Ian Mayhead Director
James Waterhouse Director
Jamie Sullivan Director
John Mumby Director
Kieron Hodgson Director
Leona Hannify Director
Lewis Westhoff Director
Lorna O’Carroll Director
Grant Director
Simon Fowler Director
Rob Amey Director TRANSPORT
Clive Burbridge Director
Fred Peters Director
Nick
Iceni Intelligence
Iceni offers a network of Area-Based Experts that report weekly on the following:
Development Plan changes;
Delivery figures for housing/employment and the implications for future land release and policy change;
Major developments and the developers behind them;
Key planning officers and Members of influence; and
Changes in Policy Direction and New Initiatives contained within the decision taking functions of authorities at local, county and sub-regional level.
Iceni Intelligence ensures Iceni are at the forefront of all planning and political matters in these areas. This informs our advice to clients on planning strategy and allows us to identify opportunities at the earliest stage.
Hertfordshire Area-Based Expert
Matthew Madden
HERTFORDSHIRE
T: 07909 530 312
E: mmadden@iceniprojects.com
Isabella Ingram
KENT/ BIRMINGHAM
T: 07990 372 954
E: iingram@iceniprojects.com
Lydia Frimley
ESSEX
T: 07760 653 824
E: lfrimley@iceniprojects.com
Josie Doherty
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
T: 07799 035 831
E: jdoherty@iceniprojects.com
Mary Helen Elliott
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
T: 07786 734 206
E: mhelliott@iceniprojects.com
Aisling Merriman
SURREY/MILTON KEYNES
T: 07765 766 991
E: amerriman@iceniprojects.com
Lauren Cadore
BEDFORDSHIRE
T: 07909 528 393
E: lcadore@iceniprojects.com
Toby Bonny
SUSSEX
T: 07788 912 615
E: tbonny@iceniprojects.com
Georgia Foy
BERKSHIRE
T: 07799 089 425
E: gfoy@iceniprojects.com
Lou Hirrien
OXFORDSHIRE/ CAMBRIDGESHIRE
T: 07350 404 895
E: lhirrien@iceniprojects.com
Yasmin Hamde
SUFFOLK
T: 0790 952 8468
E: yhamde@iceniprojects.com
SHROPSHIRE
STAFFORDSHIRE
DERBYSHIRE NOTTINGHAMSHIRE LEICESTERSHIRE
LINCOLNSHIRE
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE WEST MIDLANDS
WORCESTERSHIRE WARWICKSHIRE
HEREFORDSHIRE
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
AVON
SOMERSET WILTSHIRE
BUCKINGHAMSHIRE
CAMBRIDGESHIRE
BEDFORDSHIRE OXFORDSHIRE
HERTFORDSHIRE
GREATER LONDON ESSEX
HAMPSHIRE BERKSHIRE
SURREY
EAST SUSSEX WEST SUSSEX
KENT
DORSET
DEVON
CORNWALL
NORFOLK
SUFFOLK
Introduction to Hertfordshire Local Plan Progress Political Portrait Housing Delivery
Hertfordshire Experience
Welwyn Hatfield
The Wheat Quarter, Welwyn Garden City | Mixed-use including 1,340 homes
BP Mitchell | Waste and Recycling
Hertsmere
Croxley
Snapshot of Hertfordshire
1.9 million residents
Travel to Central London
18-50 mins from 20 largest settlements
476,000 dwellings in Herts
51% of Herts is Green Belt Land
Average house prices from approx.
£290,000 to £590,000
WATFORD THREE RIVERS
WATFORD THREE RIVERS
HERTSMERE
HERTSMERE
NORTH HERTS
NORTH HERTS
STEVENAGE
STEVENAGE
WELWYN & HATFIELD
EAST HERTS
EAST HERTS
BROXBOURNE
BROXBOURNE
ST ALBANS
DACORUM
WELWYN & HATFIELD
ST ALBANS
DACORUM
Hertfordshire Constraints: Environmental
The majority of the Hertfordshire is designated as Green Belt land with large areas designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Many of the major towns in Hertfordshire are partially or completely surrounded by Green Belt land. As a result, development is typically focussed within existing urban areas.
This forces the recycling of brownfield land but limits opportunities for large scale developments. As a result, the majority of proposals are small or medium scale.
That said, some large urban extensions or garden communities are proposed in Hertfordshire, with more detail on these provided on the next page.
On the other hand, relatively few areas in Hertfordshire are designated as Flood Zones 2 or 3, meaning that potential flood risks for development are low.
Chilterns Beechwood SAC and Tring Woodland
Dacorum Council commissioned a study into the recreational pressures on Chilterns Beechwoods SAC and Tring Woodlands. The report, published March 2022, concludes that a strategic solution is required to ensure that residential development does not result in harm to either the SAC or Tring Woodlands.
A 500m Exclusion Zone has been identified around each of the areas within which all applications will be refused. A wider Zone of Influence has also been established (see Map opposite). Any residential proposals within that ZoI - which covers the whole Borough of Dacorum and into neighbouring Boroughs of St Albans, Bucks, and Central Beds) will need a Habitat Regulations Assessment to be completed to show they do not result in increased recreational pressure on the SAC and Tring Woodlands.
These measures are in place immediately and until the relevant LPAs, Herts CC, and Natural England can prepare an appropriate strategic mitigation strategy, which will likely take the form of SAMMs (Strategic Access Management and Monitoring) and SANGs (Suitable Alternative Natural Greenspace (SANGs), but this is to be confirmed. This will take several months, if not years, to resolve.
Legend
Chi terns Beechwoods SAC (relevant components)
Ashridge Commons and Woods buffer (12 6km)
Tring Wood ands buffer (1 7km)
Dacorum
Buckinghamsh re Central Bedfordsh re Hertfordsh re Luton
Mi ton Keynes
Hertfordshire Constraints: Transport
Hertfordshire is predominantly made up of market towns established on routes into London. This has resulted in Hertfordshire being well established as part of London’s Commuter Belt as the primary travel corridors in the County run north-south, with few running east-west.
The proposed route for Crossrail 2 serves Broxbourne, Chesthunt and Waltham Cross Stations.
The proposed HS2 route bypasses Hertfordshire, as does the proposed OxfordCambridge Arc.
There are three major airports located just outside the County at Luton, Cambridge and Stansted.
Proposed / Possible Garden Communities
Hertfordshire is well known for its Garden Cities and New Towns. There are also Garden Communities either committed or proposed coming forward within Hertfordshire in the coming years. These include:
Hemel Garden Communities
1
Dacorum Borough Council, St. Albans City and District Council, Hertfordshire County Council, Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership and The Crown Estate, are working in partnership to deliver Hemel Garden Communities.
Hemel Garden Communities is an ambitious development programme that will transform Hemel Hempstead and create attractive and sustainable new neighbourhoods and communities to the north and east of Hemel Hempstead, through the delivery of more than 11,000 new homes (40% of whcih will be affordable) and 10,000 new jobs by 2050.
Many of the new jobs be focussed in the Hertfordshire Innovation Quarter, a new business park with a range of facilities including flexible office and industrial spaces.
Harlow and Gilston Garden Town
2
East Hertfordshire, Epping Forest and Harlow District Councils are working together with Hertfordshire and Essex County Councils to ensure the delivery of 16,000 new homes by 2033, with a further 7,000 planned for the Gilston Area to be built from 2033 onwards.
Harlow and Gilston Garden Town is a growth and regeneration project. The Garden Town itself encompasses Harlow, together with new strategic development sites to the north, east, south and west of Harlow, including seven new villages to the north of Harlow in the Gilston Area (the Gilston Villages).
EAST HERTS
ST ALBANS DACORUM
WELWYN & HATFIELD NORTH HERTS
STEVENAGE
WATFORD THREE RIVERS
BROXBOURNE HERTSMERE
Communiting to Central London
Hertfordshire is within the London ‘Commuter Belt’ and has well established transport links into the centre of the capital. All of the largest settlements (by population) have journey times of under 50 minutes, with 12 having journey times of 30 mins of less, making a door-to-door commute of under 1hr a These journey times combined with highly accessible coutryside areas makes Hertfordshire a very attractive option for commuters.
Watford | 22 mins to Euston
Hemel Hempstead | 27 mins to Euston
Stevenage | 27 mins to Kings Cross
St. Albans | 19 mins to St. Pancras
Welwyn Garden City | 29 mins to Kings Cross
Cheshunt | 30 mins to Liverpool Street
Hoddesdon | 40 mins to Liverpool Street
Bishop’s Stortford | 38 mins to Liverpool Street
Hatfield | 26 mins to Kings Cross
Borehamwood | 26 mins to St. Pancras
Hitchin | 32 mins to Kings Cross
Letchworth | 36 mins to Kings Cross
Harpenden | 26 mins to St. Pancras
Hertford | 49 mins to various stations
Bushey | 19 mins to Euston
Rickmansworth | 29 mins to Marylebone
Potters Bar | 18 mins to Kings Cross
Berkhamstead | 31 mins to Euston
Abbots Langley | 50 mins to Euston
Ware | 45 mins to Liverpool Street
Map Key - Travel Times
Introduction to Hertfordshire Local Plan Progress Political Portrait Housing Delivery
Local Plan Progress
Overview
The following section provides an update on the current stage of each Local Plan within Hertfordshire.
Local Plans set out the vision and a framework for the future development of an area, addressing needs and opportunities in relation to housing, the economy, community facilities and infrastructure - as well as the basis for conserving and enhancing the natural and historic environment, mitigating and adapting to climate change, and achieving well designed places. It is essential that plans are in place and kept up to date.
The National Planning Policy Framework (2019) states that policies in Local Plans should be reviewed to assess whether they need updating at least once every 5 years from their adoption date.
Broxbourne
Broxbourne Local Plan 2018-2033 was adopted on 23rd June 2020.
Dacorum
Anticipated that Reg 19 Local Plan will be published in June/July 2024, with submission for examination in Oct/Nov 2024, and adoption in Nov 2025
East Hertfordshire
The East Herts District Plan 2018 was adopted on the 23rd October 2018. The Council are preparing supporting SPDs.
Hertsmere
Reg 18 Consultation concluded in December 2021. Now preparing for Reg 19 publication.
North Hetfordshire
Inspector’s Final Report on Local Plan inc. Main Modifications anticipated any day.
St. Albans
St. Albans are currently preparing a New Local Plan 2020-2038. The published Local Development Schedule states a Reg. 18 is scheduled for January 2022, with Reg. 19 in November 2022.
Stevenage
Stevenage Borough Local Plan was adopted in May 2019. Supplementary Planning Documents are being prepared.
Three Rivers
Publication of Reg 19 Local Plan expected for November / December 2022.
Watford
Watford Council preparing revised schedule of proposed main modifications and changes to policies map and a further sustainability appraisal. Public Consultation expected in May 2022.
Welwyn Hatfield
The Council are currently battling with the Plan Inspector over the required housing targets for the Plan, with the Council trying to reduce housing targets by approx 2,000 compared to the OAN.
Map Key
Adopted 5+ years ago
Call for Sites / Regulation 18
Reg 19 / Submitted for Examination
Main Mods / Adopted within last 5 years
EAST HERTS
ST ALBANS
DACORUM
WELWYN & HATFIELD
NORTH HERTS
STEVENAGE
BROXBOURNE
HERTSMERE WATFORD THREE RIVERS
South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan
Overview
The Authorities of Dacorum, St. Albans, Watford, Hertsmere and Three Rivers, in collaboration with Hertfordshire County Council, are preparing the South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan.
South West Hertfordshire faces significant strategic challenges in accommodating the required new homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure. The five local authorities in this area continue to experience an acute shortage of new and affordable housing. Beyond existing built up areas, they are mostly designated as Green Belt land.
The Plan aims to ensure that infrastructure - such as transport, schools, health, and utilities - are properly co-ordinated and delivered alongside the need for new homes and jobs. All five councils also make up a single housing market area.
Each district Council will still be responsible for preparing their own Local Plan, but the Joint Strategic Plan will set the strategic framework and shared priorities within which the Local Plans can be prepared.
All five councils have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to take the Joint Strategic Plan forward.
Preparing a Joint Plan can be an effective way of addressing cross-boundary issues through the duty to coperate, and sharing specialist resources.
The five councils have launched the SW Herts, Your Future poll to gather residents views on what they like about SW Herts and what they think should be considered as part of the Joint Strategic Plan.
The SW Herts, Your Future consultation is being managed by Iceni Projects., with further detail on Iceni’s work on this in the ‘Our Projects’ section of this document.
A Development Schedule has been provided for the Joint Strategic Plan:
- Regulation 18: Issues and Options Consultation: Mid-2021
- Regulation 18: Preferred Options Consultation: Mid-2022
- Regulation 19: Publication Plan Consultation: Mid 2023
- Submission: End 2023
- Examination: Early 2023
- Adoption: 2024
Map Key
South West Herts Joint Strategic Plan Authority
EAST HERTS
ST ALBANS
DACORUM
WELWYN & HATFIELD NORTH HERTS
STEVENAGE
WATFORD THREE RIVERS
BROXBOURNE HERTSMERE
Introduction to Hertfordshire Local Plan Progress Political Portrait Housing Delivery
People
Added Value
Hertfordshire
Political Portrait
The largest non-developed land use in all areas in Hertfordshire was agriculture
5 out of 10 authorities are Conservative Majority
The largest non-developed land use in all areas in Hertfordshire was agriculture. Overall Hertfordshire County Council consists of 50 Conservatives (i.e. 64%), followed by 18 Liberal Demoncrats, and 10 Labour.
2 authorities currently have no overall control;
The largest non-developed land use in all areas in Hertfordshire was agriculture. The largest non-developed land use in all areas in Hertfordshire was agriculture
In elections held in May 2019 the Liberal Democrats gained a significant number of seats. However, Herts retains a strong Conservative following.
North Herts– Labour / Liberal Demoncrat Coalition St. Albans – Liberal Democrats
Map Key
Labour Liberal
Conservative
EAST HERTS
ST ALBANS
DACORUM
WELWYN & HATFIELD
NORTH HERTS
STEVENAGE
WATFORD
THREE RIVERS
BROXBOURNE
HERTSMERE
Introduction to Hertfordshire Local Plan Progress Political Portrait Housing Delivery
People
Latest Five Year Housing Land Supply
The 5 year housing land supply is a calculation of whether there is a deliverable supply of homes to meet the planned housing requirements over the next 5 years.
Just 2 of the 10 authorities can demonstrate a Five Year Housing Land Supply, with the remainder mostly standing between 1.47 and 3.0 years supply
This opens up opportunities for speculative applications as the presumption in favour of sustainable development will apply. Notwithstanding this, the majority of Hertfordshire is situated within the Green Belt, therefore a robust Very Special Circumstances (VSC) would be required to overcome harm to the Green Belt.
Whilst housing need, including affordable housing, can constitute a VSC in itself, this is dependent on the details of the site and proposals. Therefore, it may be necessary to establish additional VSCs. These must be specific and relatable to the proposed development and demonstrate provision above an beyond policy or legislative requirements.
Map Key
ST ALBANS
DACORUM
WELWYN & HATFIELD
NORTH HERTS
STEVENAGE
WATFORD THREE RIVERS
BROXBOURNE HERTSMERE
Housing Delivery Test Measurement
The Housing Delivery Test compares the net homes delivered over three years in each authority to the homes required over the same period.
When compared with the figures published in 2019, 7 Hertfordshire Local Authorities have seen decreases in their Housing Delivery Test results, whereas just 2 saw increases. This shows mixed performance across the County.
Out of the 10 Local Authorities, 1 is required to produce an Action Plan, 7 are required to apply are subject to the presumption in favour of sustainable development, and 2 require no action.
We predict that many of these authorities will also see further decreases when the 2021 Housing Delivery Test Results are published (likely to be around February 2022) due to the impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Housing Delivery Test Measurement (2020)
Map Key
Presumption
Buffer Applied
Action Plan Required
Exceeded 100% Target
EAST HERTFORDSHIRE
ST ALBANS
DACORUM
WELWYN & HATFIELD
BROXBOURNE
NORTH HERTS
STEVENAGE
WATFORD THREE RIVERS HERTSMERE
Introduction to Hertfordshire Local Plan Progress Political Portrait Housing Delivery
The Wheat Quarter
Welwyn
Garden City
Iceni is acting for Plutus Estates to secure a major redevelopment of a historically significant, former industrial site next to Welwyn Garden City Railway Station
Iceni is instructed to secure a major residential-led mixed-use redevelopment of the former Shredded Wheat Factory to the east of Welwyn Garden City railway station. With a challenging brief to preserve the most valued components of the historic fabric, remain true to Garden City principles with the scheme design and to optimise development capacity of the site through densification to enable significant affordable housing delivery, Iceni is required to deliver a planning permission that will meet the aspirations of our clients, the Local Planning Authority, the local community and Historic England.
A detailed planning application was submitted at the beginning of 2018 and in order to facilitate the commencement of on-site works beginning by Q3 2018, conditionprecedent information has already been provided up front in respect of the first phase of development to enable early delivery.
A revised hybrid planning application was submitted in February 2021. The application requests detailed consent for 399 Build to Rent dwellings, a 250 unit care community, a further 153 dwellings, a 15,247m2 community and commercial hub, a cycle hub, and associated infrastructure, with outline consent requested for 418 dwellings. The application is currently under consideration by the Counci.
The site is strategically important for the District given the scale of growth required and the extent of Green Belt review proposed to meet the District’s growth requirements.
BP Mitchell
Central Hertfordshire
Iceni Projects has been advising BP Mitchell (Mitchells) on strategic waste planning within Hertfordshire for over 10 years and has secured a host of asset management initiatives that have helped transform the business into the largest recycled aggregate operator in the County.
Operating a successful and growing business serving the building and construction industry, BP Mitchell currently operate across two Green Belt sites in central Hertfordshire – Burnside and Birchall Lane.
Acting as the company’s strategic advisor, Iceni took a site with temporary planning permission for soil washing in the Green Belt through a development management and development plan process to a position today where they have a permanent planning permission for a site three times the size, with a waste allocation, an employment allocation and the site removed from the Green Belt. The site allocation in Hertfordshire’s Waste Plan in 2014 is one of only five strategic waste management sites currently operating in the County, thus elevating the company’s position as the most important recycled aggregate provider in Hertfordshire.
BP Mitchell’s ancillary Burnside site operates in tandem with the larger Birchall Lane site, and these two sites work in conjunction with one another help to facilitate the continued development of the growing business which BP Mitchell operate.
Croxley Danes Free School
Three Rivers District Council
Iceni Projects secured planning permission for a new Secondary School in the Three Rivers District. We worked with a varied range of consultants and the local authority to meet a challenging timetable.
Iceni Projects were instructed by Kier Construction to secure planning permission for the permanent home of the new Croxley Danes School. The secondary school, which will accommodate 6 forms of entry, is due to open in 2020 after Iceni secured permission in January 2018. This was part of a challenging timetable to deliver permission to allow the school to open in time.
The site was allocated in the Local Plan (having been partially removed from the Green Belt) and delivered a large area of playing fields for the new school. Iceni worked with a large consultant team to overcome the site constraints including traffic, drainage, landscape and trees. These issues were successfully resolved by working collaboratively with the local authority and the relevant statutory consultees.
Iceni Engagement were also instrumental in securing permission. They arranged a two day consultation event which despite being attended by over 400 people only led to the application receiving 18 objections. They also engaged with local members and sought to demonstrate that the scheme had overcome the various constraints. The application was approved by a clear majority at Planning Committee.
Strategic Housing Market Assessment
South West Herts
Authorities
Iceni teams have been involved in various elements of the preparation of a Joint Spatial Plan for the Authorities of Dacorum, Hertsmere, St. Albans, Three Rivers and Watford.
Iceni Director Nick Ireland has worked as part of the consultancy team which prepared both a Strategic Housing Market Assessment for the South West Hertfordshire authorities of Dacorum, Hertsmere, St Albans, Three Rivers and Watford; and prepared an Economy Study appraising economic dynamics, growth potential and future employment land needs. This included work to understand economic and commercial property dynamics, consider future employment sites; and appraise the inter-relationships between economic dynamics and housing need.
1-3 St Peter’s Street
St. Albans
Iceni’s Planning and Heritage teams supported the change of use, conversion and extension of part of a Grade II Listed, seventeenth century building, in the heart of St. Albans
Requiring detailed and lengthy negotiation with officers, the team were able to persuade the Council of the need to find a viable new use for the two upper floors of the building, which had been in office use, but had become disused, and subject to vandalism. The consented scheme will deliver six new high-quality residential units, in a highly sustainable location, and will dramatically improve the contribution of this important corner in the City Centre to its surroundings.
B3 Living Broxbourne
Iceni has been working with B3 Living to progress a piece of research to understand the nature of the housing crisis in the Borough of Broxbourne.
The research has involved detailed analysis of Broxbourne’s housing market, and the causes and symptoms of the housing crisis in the Borough – with a particular focus on homelessness. Iceni have then been working with B3 Living to inform discussions regarding B3 Living’s ‘purpose’ and to consider how it can intervene most effectively in the Borough.
Compass Park
Bushey, Hertsmere
Compass Park seeks to build upon an existing 200 year legacy by facilitating the growth of a new community in Bushey.
Iceni Projects is working closely with the client and consultant team to prepare a robust masterplan for approximately 47 hectares of land north of Bushey, Hertfordshire.
The design solution utilises the mature landscape setting of the site, and includes the provision of care facilities and a primary school, as well as providing much needed housing.
Working with technical consultants, the masterplan mitigates the presence of gas and electricity pipelines, including the relevant offset space, and still produces an environment in which a new community can thrive. Iceni’s Sustainable Development team contributed to promoting the scheme, analysing competing sites and providing recommendations for the Compass Park scheme using the Sustainable Development Scorecard.
A414 Corridor
Hertfordshire
County Council
Iceni submitted representations to the Hertfordshire County Council’s draft A414 Corridor Strategy Consultation.
Iceni’s representation was in relation to the route selection of the proposed Hertford Bypass on behalf of a private landowner. Our client’s landholding was potentially going to be adversely impacted by the proposed route.
This project involved a critique of the draft Strategy and the supporting evidence with a focus on the Strategic Environmental Assessment, Heritage, Transport and Viability to ensure due consideration was given to the reasonable alternatives for the proposed interventions.
Joint Strategic Plan
South West Herts
The five local planning authorities within South West Hertfordshire (Dacorum Borough Council, Hertsmere Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council, Three RIvers Borough Council and Watford Borough Council) are working in collaboration with Hertfordshire County Council to consider what would be needed to develop a Joint Strategic Plan (JSP), with the intention to proactively plan for the are’s growth beyond 2036, up to and past 2050.
Iceni Projects initially supported the six local authorities in South West Hertfordshire in preparing a Communications Plan to support the JSP programme, funded by the Planning Advisory Service (PAS). Following agreement of the Communications Plan, one of the early recommendations of the Plan was to deliver an initial piece of engagement with the community, prior to any formal work commencing on the development of the JSP.
We led an engagement programme which focussed on gaining insight into priorities, issues and opportunities across the area. The aim was also to widen community participation early in the process, particularly amongst young people.
We undertook a widespread digital engagement exercise, which resulted in:
• Over 10,100 visits to the webpage
• Over 3,200 polls completed
• Over 14,000 individual free text comments
• Over 600 individuals provided contact details to be involved on an ongoing basis
• Even spread of ages of respondents, from under 25’s to over 65’s
• Clear emerging consensus on community priorities
• Reach and quality of feedback surpassed officer and member expectations
Beaumont Works
St. Albans
Iceni Heritage worked with Inland Homes and John Pardey Architects to deliver a scheme for the creation of 58 units on a former raincoat factory site in Fleetville, St. Albans.
Beaumont Works, a Grade II listed, north-lit structure, originally of 1900 but with later additions and alterations, was identified early on in the process as having significance for its decorative terracotta main façade, and the quality of its internal spaces and framing.
Working closely with the design team, and developing very positive relationships with officers, Iceni were able to help gain consent for a scheme with significant intrusions into the historic fabric. Officers were ultimately persuaded of the acceptability of the part-demolition of the listed building and a curtilage listed building, and of the appropriateness of an subdivision scheme internally to create top-lit warehouse style units, around internal covered courtyards.
In addition, consent was granted for the creation of two large new-build elements to the rear, with landscaping and parking. Addressing officer concerns regarding subdivision, and persuading them of the value of punching additional windows into the external façade, the scheme was moved from inception to consent in less than a year; Iceni’s role in forming a conduit between architect and conservation officer was integral to this swiftly delivered success. The scheme has now been sold on, and Iceni Heritage are working with the new owner to ensure swift discharge of conditions related to the listed building.
Premier Inn Hotel
Watford
Iceni Projects was instructed by Drax Investments Limited to apply for a detailed planning application for a 124-bedroom hotel on behalf of Whitbread (the owners of the Premier Inn) in Watford town centre.
The site was allocated for office-led employment uses; however, Iceni Projects successfully made the case that with Watford’s ambitious growth plans of delivering at least 7,000 new jobs by 2031 there was an unmet need for additional hotel beds. Iceni emphasised that Watford was becoming a destination in its owns right; with Harry Potter World, a Premiership Football Club, and wide retail offer.
Notwithstanding the above, this existing garage site did have constraints, including right-to-light; overlooking; and access. The proposals were within close proximity of a listed building; the building will also appear within local strategic views. As such heritage and townscape were important factors.
The application received unanimous support from Members and, when constructed, will provide the Premier Inn with a strong footing in Watford as well as creating approximately 40 full-time jobs.
Iceni advised on planning and built heritage / townscape.
Bircherley Green Shopping Centre
Hertford, East Herts
On behalf of Diageo Pension Trust Ltd and in collaboration with Wrenbridge, Iceni Projects obtained planning permission from East Herts District Council (EHDC) for the mixed-use retail, hotel and residential development at the Bircherley Green Shopping Centre in Hertford.
The Site is located within Hertford Town Centre and extends to 1.02 hectares and is located between Railway Street to the south, the River Lea to the north, Bircherley Street to the east and Bull Plain to the west, and has good access to local bus and rail facilities.
The development comprises 4,694 sqm of retail floorspace (Use Classes A1 to A5), an 86-bed hotel and 70 residential flats and includes the refurbishment of the existing car park in addition to enhancement of bus station facilities and new public realm.
The proposals have evolved through extensive consultation with key stakeholders including Hertfordshire County Council, EHDC and the local community, and it is anticipated that the redevelopment of the site will provide significant benefits to the wider area in the form of housing provision, retail opportunities and leisure facilities. The site will provide a modern, high quality and sustainable development in an accessible location.
Clarendon Road
Watford
Planning permission has been granted for the demolition of an existing RBS Bank and the redevelopment of the site for an 8 and 12 storey residential led development within the heart of Watford Town Centre.
The Site, allocated as part of the Watford Local Plan, is situated on Clarendon Road, and is seen as the gateway to Watford Town Centre, with sustainable surroundings close to amenities and local transport networks directly into Central London.
The redevelopment of the site will provide a significant contribution of 65 homes to Watford, with a mix of 1 and 2 bedroom units and flexible commercial space at ground floor level.
Iceni Projects led extensive pre application discussions with Watford Borough Council, maximising the potential for the site and navigating the constraints of a small site, while ensuring exceptional design standards alongside the appointed architects.
Introduction to Hertfordshire Local Plan Progress Political Portrait Housing Delivery Our
Projects Our People
Added Value
James Waterhouse Director, Planning
T: 020 3640 8508
M: 07734 464 067
E: jwaterhouse@iceniprojects.com
A founding Director of Iceni Projects, James is privileged to work on a diverse range of projects for a diverse set of clients, with the only unifying characteristic of the casework being its planning complexity.
His work covers the full spectrum of the planning process from site appraisal and promotion through to Development Plans, regeneration strategies, planning applications and appeal work.
James’ key strength lies in his ability to think strategically in order to unlock problems and deliver successful planning outcomes, and he prides himself on providing clients with the highest levels of commercial advice. This extends to identifying new business opportunities, whether these be new business models or new sites, in addition to providing core planning advice.
James sits within Iceni’s Strategic Planning team, who enable him to maximise the range of projects he can work on at any one time.
Leona Hannify Director, Planning
T: 020 3640 8508
M: 07972 94 016
E: lhannify@iceniprojects.com
Leona leads a variety of complex and strategic projects.
Leona is a Director on the Strategic Planning Team and in her role promotes a wide range of large scale projects with a particular focus on greenfield residential-led mixed use schemes and renewable energy developments.
Leona’s keen understanding of the processes and procedures within planning, alongside her determination to succeed, enables her to manage the delivery of large scale strategic development sites.
Leona joined Iceni Projects in 2012 having worked on a number of high profile project portfolios in Ireland. Leona has secured planning permissions for a range of major commercial, residential and infrastructure projects across the UK. Many of these projects involve Environmental Impact Assessments whereby Leona plays a lead role in managing and co-ordinating large multidisciplinary teams.
In addition to her technical expertise, Leona’s key strengths include strong analytical, communication and interpersonal skills, which have been enhanced through her work with private and public sector clients and multidisciplinary project teams.
Nick Ireland Director, Economics
T: 020 3640 8508
M: 07584 886 068
E: nireland@iceniprojects.com
Nick provides robust technical expertise to support strategic planning and site promotion.
Nick specialises in providing advice on strategic planning and economic development issues including employment land and economic impact, housing need and five year housing land supply, feasibility studies and sub-regional spatial planning. He regularly acts as an expert witness at inquiries and local plan examinations. Before joining Iceni, Nick led GL Hearn’s Economics Team.
Nick has advised councils at a sub-regional level on strategic growth opportunities, including urban extensions, new settlements and strategic infrastructure. He led preparation of a Birmingham HMA Strategic Housing Study which encompassed a strategic review of Birmingham’s Green Belt; a Spatial Position Statement for the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH), and has work with other local authorities in Buckinghamshire, Kent and Sussex to assess potential locations for, and the feasibility of new settlements and large urban extensions.
He regularly provides expert witness advice on objectively-assessed housing need and five year land supply, and has led preparation of strategic housing market assessments for areas right across England. His expertise includes advising on housing mix issues and older persons housing and care needs.
Philippa Curran Director, Engagement
T: 020 3640 8508
M: 07795 614 307
E: pcurran@iceniprojects.com
Philippa has the ability to work successfully with communities and local authorities to deliver high quality projects.
Philippa is an experienced consultant with over 15 years’ experience in the field of strategic planning and engagement. She has been responsible for a range of planning, engagement and masterplanning work in the UK with extensive experience of public engagement and participation, preparing masterplans, development feasibility studies and regeneration strategies. She is an experienced project manager and regularly assists in brokering relationships between the public and private sector.
Recent project experience includes assisting The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea to engage with communities in North Kensington, supporting engagement work in relation to the preparation of Joint Strategic Plans and preparing a number of masterplans and delivery strategies for key sites in Melton for Melton Borough Council.
Her wider experience includes the Leatherhead Town Centre Masterplan and Delivery Strategy for Mole Valley, the Caterham town Supplementary Planning Document for Tandridge District Council and the Twickenham Area Action Plan for The London Borough of Richmond, all of which are now in the process of being delivered.
Introduction to Hertfordshire Local Plan Progress Political Portrait Housing Delivery
Iceni Futures
The Iceni Futures team was set up in response to the rapidly changing world and the acknowledgment that more than ever, we need to create futureproofed and sustainable development. The teams role is to assess, predict and influence change across the development industry. In practice that means exploring how places and people will function in the future, analysing existing barriers and providing strategic advice which aligns with clients goals and aspirations to ensure development is fit for the future.
The team doesn’t claim to be experts in every new discipline or product, but they understand the existing barriers and outdated development processes that persist across the industry and the importance of working innovatively and smarter to deliver client visions and change that actually works. It’s understood that each client will need tailored advice and the Futures team look to work collaboratively to provide advice which is tailored to a specific site, company strategy or product. Essentially, if you’re looking to plan for or capitalise on the future, Iceni Futures can be there to support you and drive that ambition.
Iceni Futures: Smarter Sustainability
iSite
iSite pulls together a number of services to enable the promoter of a project – but equally the respective consultant, local authority, consultee, local community and wider interested party – to gain the knowledge and understanding of a site or location that historically has only been possible from an in-depth site visit. Moreover, many projects are of the size and scale that even a physical site visit renders difficult to comprehend.
The key focus of iSite is to provide an intelligent digital design and consultation tool. This incorporates the use of drone photography, 360° camerawork (think Google Street View for buildings), interactive, virtual consultation halls and project web sites that can pool together all of the information for effective file management and sharing. So whether you need to initiate an initial site survey appraisal, team site visit, preapplication meeting, public consultation event or committee presentation, iSite can help.
iSite wont be for everyone. We understand that. But if you are looking for cost-effective ways to progress with your proposals, it could be the answer.
To discuss iSite please email isite@iceniprojects.com
The Sustainable Development Scorecard
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) has running throughout it the ‘golden thread of sustainable development’. In spite of this, there is no clear-cut, NPFbased assessment criteria to consider a site or project’s sustainable development credentials, making current assessment processes both tricky and subjective.
The Sustainable Development Commission was established to address this recognised issue with our planning system. Made up of a balanced cross-section of industry professionals, the Commission has debated the issues and found solutions, culminating in the creation of the Sustainable Development Scorecard.
The Scorecard website is free to use and accessible to anyone with a vested interest in development, including developers, architects, planners, community groups and members of the public. By crystallising the NPPF’s guidance into a simple, online analysis tool, the Commissionaims to provide a more consistent approach to sustainable development, leading to a more sustainable built environment.
www.thescorecard.org.uk
www.iceniprojects.com iceni-projects iceniprojects iceniprojects