Tetlow King Town Planning and Development Consultants

TKP Research Hits the Headlines

Recent research Tetlow King Planning has undertaken for the National Housing Federation has hit the headlines in both the general and professional media.

We were instructed to contact local authorities across the South West, South East and the East of England Regions to test the effect of recent policy announcements by the new Coalition Government.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles wrote to local authorities in May 2010 outlining the Government’s commitment to abolishing regional strategies. All approved and emerging Regional Spatial Strategies (RSS) and Regional Plans have subsequently been revoked and the forthcoming Localism Bill will repeal their entire legal underpinning.

The research found Mr Pickles’ letter in May had a ‘very significant impact’ in reducing local authority house building targets. In the immediate aftermath of the letter a number of authorities have announced that they would be reducing their housing targets or suspending work on local Core Strategies. A number have also delayed the determination of large strategic housing developments.

It was clear that some authorities had already been planning lower targets before Eric Pickles’ letter was released. Some had been influenced by a letter by the then Shadow Minister, Caroline Spelman, in August 2009, advising local authorities of a potential Conservative Government’s intention to abolish regional housing targets and that in the light of this there was no necessity for them to progress controversial large scale proposals.

Across the three regions it was initially identified that about 85,000 homes were no longer being planned for.

The initial National Housing Federation press release generated widespread interest, provoking national coverage in The Independent and the Daily Mirror; and a front page story in the regional Western Daily Press.

We were subsequently approached by Channel 4 News, 6 weeks after the original research and asked to do an update which revealed that the number of homes cut by local authorities had increased to around 100,000 in the interim. Channel 4 News featured this as their lead story on the 2nd September, featuring a comprehensive report by their Economics Editor Faisal Islam. Including various interviews and reaction, the total feature lasted 10 minutes. Full details including quotes from Jamie Sullivan can be accessed at Channel 4 News.

A selection of the other news stories can be accessed below:

The Independent (19th July 2010)
BBC (19th July 2010)
Western Daily Press (21st July 2010)
The Planning Portal (22nd July 2010)
Inside Housing (23rd July 2010)
Inside Housing (13th August 2010)
Regeneration and Renewal (19th July 2010)
Planning Resource (19th July 2010)
Planning Magazine (3rd September 2010)
24dash.com (19th July 2010)

03.09.10

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Tetlow King Planning is a leading planning and development consultancy advising a wide range of public and private sector organisations nationwide. The company was founded in 1985 as a separate entity within the Tetlow King Group, which dates back to 1977.

Our involvement in the planning process is extremely varied, ranging from influencing strategic policy at the national and regional levels through to promoting small scale development proposals at the local level.

We are experienced in planning for all types of development, with particular specialisms in housing, care and advertising.

We have a strong mix of clients including investors, landowners, developers, housing associations, local authorities, government organisations, professional bodies, trade bodies, research and educational institutions and community groups.

We understand the social, economic, political and environmental context in which the planning system operates and seek to work in co-operation with planning authorities.

Our main objectives are to enable sustainable development and deliver high quality planning solutions.

We seek to provide imaginative, viable and effective advice to each of our diverse clients. We work across the public and private sectors, avoiding conflicts of interest.

All Directors are Chartered Town Planners and we are bound by the regulations of the Royal Town Planning Institute and the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. We aim to provide a professional and personal service.

We are accredited by Constructionline and the Planning Advisory Service; which are widely recognised benchmarks of quality.

We can collaborate with our associated companies within the informal Tetlow King Group to create an overall multi-disciplinary package encompassing architectural, urban design, building surveying, landscape, environmental and engineering services beyond our core planning discipline. More often than not, however, we work in tandem with a variety of other specialist consultants at the discretion of the client.

Further information can be found in our general brochure which is available by clicking on the link below and can be requested in hard copy using the details on the contacts pages.

Tetlow King Planning Brochure

21/05/09