Developer News, December 2011

“What a great race…”

 That’s what I used to say after I’d completed some tough fell races with lots of ups and downs (mental as well as physical),  and that’s also how I’d sum things up as we move towards Christmas. This year has been a tough challenge for development, both in the public and the private sectors but I think our ability to innovate and remain resilient has put in good shape for 2012. 

The key issue of accessing finance remains. I don’t think there will be a quick resolution to this in 2012 , so we’ll just have to get on with finding those deposits and secure pre-lets/sales.

As we prepare for a well earned rest I look forward to working with you all next year and wish you all the best.

Chris Standish MA (Hons) MRTPI
Economic Development Consultancy Manager
Regenerate Pennine Lancashire
T: 07970 546683
E: chris.standish@regeneratepl.co.uk

Investment Consultanty Service Launched

We are excited about launching our own economic development consultancy service in the New Year. This follows a successful review of our team’s first 6 months of operation. The partnership board has given us the green light to promote this new service.

Our Head of Investment and deputy managing director Steven Szostak has outlined a number of service modifications which put the business on a much more commercial footing.

This will begin in January 2012, as our services are being restructured to become more fee-based.  We have already run successful customer discussions about the introduction of fees and forecast modest income for 2011/12.

Steve has asked me to co-ordinate the service and to be the first point of contact.

Despite the very difficult trading situation for many generic economic development consultancies, we have sensed there is a gap in the market for specialist skills like ours.

I know when I was working in EC Harris LLP, we were very focused in a ‘team’ approach to client management and this is my intension with the new service.

The full extent of our services will include : 

  • Planning – applications, appeals and policy work
  • Land & Property – search and mediation
  • Development & Regeneration – bringing complex opportunities to market
  • Facilities Management – managing assets
  • Developer brokerage – reintroducting projects to the public sector
  • Environment and procurement – all aspects associated with the ‘green’ agenda
  • Inward Investment
  • Grant funding
  • Business advice and support

As always in this field of operation, we will have a skills pool of associate technical specialists. These will include colleagues with top rated specialisms working within our public sector partners. I’ll be delighted to hear from any associates and agencies interested in working with Regenerate.

 

Charter Walk set for £3m Investment

Plans to reconfigure and improve the Burnley shopping centre have been submitted by Addington Capital. This is a further sign of market confidence in Burnley town centre which seems to be going from strength to strength following the recent plans and proposals to improve the Trinity Wayshopping centre.

 

Crow Wood Leisure limbers up for growth

The Burnley based leisure centre continues to be popular and plans have recently been submitted on behalf of the owners to make it even bigger and better. The Woodland Spa is intending to add two new pools in a £2m planned extension that will create up to 15 new jobs locally.

 

Barnfield Construction selected for Pilkingtons new production site

Barnfield Chief Executive Tim Webber and his team have been selected as lead contractor for a new £5m glass production site in St. Helens.  It’s another feather in the cap for the Nelson based firm who once again continue to thrive in the downturn.

 

Regenerate – Regional Growth Fund Success

The Government announced on the 31st October that Regenerate had been successful in our application to the Regional Growth Fund (RGF), securing £7.5m for the ‘Accelerating Business Growth’ programme, to encourage investment and jobs growth in local companies. The Accelerating Business Growth bid was developed through engagement with over 200 high-growth businesses (‘gazelles’) from across Pennine Lancashire, but the project will operate over a wider geographical are, picking up other parts of Lancahsire with growth prospects, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

Regenerate Pennine Lancashire Limited, on behalf of these SMEs, and working with Local Authority officers, developed this Programme in response to identified need.

The main programme intervention will take the form of a capital investment scheme to help businesses to bring forward investment for expansion projects e.g. premises, plant and machinery which create sustainable jobs within a 12 month period.