A presentation from 'The value of planning conference' by the Planning Advisory Service.

1. Anna Rose
Director for Planning
and Transport
Milton Keynes Council
The Four C’s
Creating an
environment for
investment

2. • Clarity
• Consistency
• Confidence
• Communication
The Four C’s

3. Clarity
• Be open and welcoming
• Be honest about the chances of success
• Be willing to share ideas, advice and opinion
• Be prepared to clarify with the client that your
advice has been understood
• Be clear about further work required
• Be realistic about timescales

4. Consistency
• Everyone needs to be giving the same message
– whatever that is
• The service should be the same even though the
situations and outcomes may differ
• Clients should be able to rely on a set level of
service being delivered
• Clients should enter the planning process with a
reasonable expectation of the outcome
• Decisions should show that the LPA treat people
equally and apply the same rules
• Work with the planning committee to drive
through consistent decision making
• Make sure that you are consistently good

5. • Confidence is built over time
• There is a need to build relationships both within
your team and externally to gain confidence
• Fit the service you offer to the requirements of
the business
• Confidence could mean the difference between
a business locating in one area over another
• Poor practice will be retained in the memory far
longer than the good
• Confidence boosts morale and further improves
service
Confidence

6. • Communication is key
• Reputation can be gained and lost on the back
of communication
• Communication is not just two way
• Lack of communication within the Council can
be the most frustrating part of development
• LPAs have a role in working with stakeholders
and Councillors to enable the best scheme to
come forward
• Communication is an ongoing part of the
delivery process
Communication

7. Ansty Park
• Sainsbury’s Store Support Centre operational since 2012 - 15,516 sqm
unit on site formerly occupied by Ericsson
• Extension of 16,659 sqm B1a floor space proposed in two new office
buildings to provide facilities for up to 1200 employees
• Planning application received by RBC end Aug 2014, approved
beginning Nov 2014
• A need to be flexible on mix of B1a/b uses for this site - retention of
high-technology aspect of the overall employment site, but important
that B1a use permitted as contribution to sub-regional jobs

8. • 40ha site – allocated employment land of A45 close to Coventry
Ryton
• Build to suit units of 100k – 500k sq. ft. and mix of B2 (e.g. JLR) and B8
(UK Mail) end users
• Site ‘stalled’ during recession but recent progress has been rapid:
 Units 3 (JLR) and 4 (LG) - outline approved Sep 2012, reserved
matters approved May 2013 and completion in 2014
 Unit 5 (Freeman) – reserved matters approved in just 7 weeks
July/Aug 2013 and completion by end of 2014

9. Eden Park North
• Excellent strategic location off
M6 J1
• 36ha employment site for B2/B8
allocated in 2011 Core Strategy
• Subdivided for 5 units – largest
of which approved for 800,000
sq. ft. – likelihood of all B8
delivery
• Outline application approved Aug
2013
• Infrastructure works commenced
Autumn 2013
• Unit RG-1 (pre-let to H&M)
reserved matters approved Feb
2014
• Unit complete by end 2014

10. • New £25m UK HQ
• 11,635 sqm four storey building for B1
• 1.38 ha outdoor secure stock-in-transit area
• Application received and validated Jul 2012
following pre-application advice
• Decision issued Oct 2012
• Completion 2015
• 340 new jobs, 650 jobs retained
Volkswagen Financial Services
Expansion - 2014/2015

11. • New £70m bakery facility
• 250,000 sq. ft. warehouse and production unit
• Reserved matters received and validated Aug 2013
• Decision issued Oct 2013
• Viability considerations
• Completion 2015
• 200 new jobs
Brioche Pasquier – Expansion
2014/15

12. Summing up
• Clarity
• Consistency
• Confidence
• Communication

13. Thank you for listening