Think tank launches Radical Regeneration Manifesto to help drive growth

A think tank representing the property sector has launched a Radical Regeneration Manifesto to ensure the area’s knowledgebased economy – home to over two million jobs – remains competitive on the global stage post-Brexit.

The manifesto sets out 16 policy recommendations to radically overhaul how the public and private sector deliver housing, workspace, and infrastructure within the Arc.

Co-authored by property consultant Bidwells, alongside global architects Perkins and Will and policy advisory firm Blackstock Consulting, and including contributions from Legal & General, Barratt Developments and Countryside Properties, the manifesto is intended to offer a blueprint for future regeneration projects nationwide.

The recommendations include:

 Creating a singular body to fasttrack key development across the Arc, whether it’s homes, transport infrastructure or lab space. This could include permitted development rights around brownfield sites meeting an agreed criteria and density of sites linked to transport hubs for example

 Update archaic planning rules enabling quicker change of use and more flexibility over how sites can be used, given that many fast-growing businesses have no idea where they will be in two years. Alongside this, extending permitted development rights for brownfield sites and mandating that younger people get involved in community engagement through the use of apps rather than just town halls.

 Fixed regulation that mandates zero carbon, and ideally, carbon negative, development. Passivhaus should be as standard for housing, because without this there will be no way to really build trust and galvanise communities to become ambassadors, rather than opponents, of development in areas of natural beauty

Patrick McMahon, Senior Partner at Bidwells, said: “There is already evidence of the global force the Arc can become. We’ve launched this manifesto to highlight the need to tap into the different expertise that the public and private sectors possess at a time when it’s crucial.”