Strategic and Policy Advice - Housing and Development Issues; Related Projects
Related Projects:
Strategic
advice to Bristol City Council in connection with its funding and redevelopment options for the "Prefab" project, extending over 15 Council owned sites. Using only the value in the land and buildings, the project involved appraising various funding scenarios to determine the optimum private sector development solution whilst returning the maximum number of new dwellings to Council ownership.
Extensive work for Torbay Council, including;
An ongoing
retainer to advise on enabling/affordable housing issues, including negotiating the provision of affordable dwellings with developers on major schemes via Section 106 agreements. We have also prepared an Affordable Housing Action Plan, together with policies and procedures. We have carried out training/capacity building with housing and planning officers on affordable housing issues.
Research
and preparation of Torbay Council's "Fit for Purpose" Housing Strategy 2003-6.
Establishing a Housing Partnership Framework for Torbay, which was cited as a model of good practice by the Audit Commission in 2004.
More recently, we are very pleased that an Audit Commission Inspection of Torbay Housing Services Department focussing on Strategy and Enabling, in June 2006, has resulted in a judgement of "a good service with promising prospects of becoming excellent". We would like to extend our congratulations to the Council for this achievement.
Preparation
of a Fit for Purpose Housing Strategy for Mid Devon District Council in 2005, along with advising on a new structure for partnership working.
Carrying out Exeter City Council's Homelessness Review and preparing the Homelessness Strategy 2003.
Researchand preparation of the Exeter City Council's Housing Strategy 2003-2008.
Completion of an Independent Scoping Review of strategic enabling and affordable housing issues for North Somerset Council, including consideration of relevant documentation, interviews with key officers, preparation of a detailed report/action plan and presentations to senior officers and members.
Advice to West Oxfordshire District Council (in conjunction with Tetlow King Planning) in connection with draft Supplementary Planning Guidance and affordable housing issues.
Devising and setting up Private Sector Leasing Schemes for Spelthorne Borough Council and Torbay Council which are now operational.
A report for the Housing Corporation looking at the "Barriers to Good Design in Social Housing" under the "Innovation and Good Practice" framework.
A financial modelling project for the Guinness Trust, working in conjunction with the Duchy of Cornwall, to examine affordability of home ownership options and the potential for innovative new approaches using equity retention and other approaches on the Poundbury scheme in Dorchester.
