TRACK 1
NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING FOR BUSINESS
How can businesses engage in Business Neighbourhood Planning, what
are the advantages of them doing so and what are the implications for
the character and quality of place at the City scale?
Neighbourhood Planning
Case Study
Maresa Molloy
Contents
• Background to “Business Neighbourhoods”
and Frontrunners.
• LIPBNF The story so far….
• Hurdles and Help
• Issues and opportunities
• Further information
Background to Business Neighbourhoods
• British Chambers of Commerce and British Property Federation –
noted that neighbourhoods were presumed residential.
• Amendment to Localism Bill enabling businesses to bring forward
NPs and NDOs
• Take a lead and have a vote – where an area is wholly or
predominantly business in nature.
• 8 Business Neighbourhoods frontrunners identified including;
Milton Keynes, Trafford Park, LIP, Team Valley Trading Estate,
Bankside, Southbank & Waterloo, New West End Company and
Aldershot town centre.
Liverpool Innovation Park Business Neighbourhood
Area
The Area
• Entirely business
populated
• 60 businesses, 2,500
employees.
• 800,000 sq ft commercial
& business
• 4 key zones - LIP
reception & main
building, Wavertree Tech
Park, Littlewoods Site,
Development sites
• Edged by areas of social
deprivation.
LIPBNF The story so far…
• May 2011 – put forward expression of interest to
become frontrunner (LCC, Ashtenne, Chamber)
• Localism Act (Nov 2011)and NP regulations came
into force July 2012.
• Stakeholder Engagement (Dec 12 – April 13) via
Liverpool Chamber.
• Assembled Shadow Forum and Constitution.
• Area application submitted Aug 2013, approved
Oct 2013
• Forum application submitted Feb 2014…
• Community Engagement stage
The Hurdles
• Unchartered territory
• Questions on process – area designation, forum eligibility and
designation etc
• Changes in ownership and management within the park
• Building a team (forum)
• Council process – multiple directorates
• Awareness & understanding
The Helps
• £20k frontrunner funds
• Good relationship with Local Planning team, support has been
forthcoming.
• Locality Guidance, funding & direct support
• Positive relationship with DCLG, networking with other areas.
• Good business engagement and direct support with venues,
butties, planning expertise, webhosting and design.
• Project management / Chamber support
Images of the area
The issues
• Strategic; key employment site, identity / purpose,
infrastructure upgrades.
• Landowners; attracting new tenants and keep existing,
improved services, flexibility in landuse classifications, small
scale extensions.
• Businesses; safety & security, empty units, signage and
fencing, design, parking and transport (movement & access)
• Residents and Cllrs; Transport and access to employment.
Opportunities
• Create a new vision for the area.
• Remove the need for planning permission for some
development.
• Grant planning consent for specific sites – Neighbourhood
Development Order
• Make the case for new facilities and amenities required by
local people.
• Remove planning obstacles for potential tenants and
investors.
• Influence infrastructure spend in the area via the
Community Infrastructure Level (CIL)
• Identify non-planning related projects that would benefit
the area.
• Enable sustainable growth.
Further information
Liverpool Innovation Park Business Neighbourhood Forum
www.lipbnf.org.uk
Maresa Molloy Public Affairs maresa@mmpa.co.uk
Tel: 07753 691 984
Further information & Support
#neighbourhoodplanning
www.locality.org.uk
www.mycommunityrights.org.uk
planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk
www.ourneighbourhoodplanning.org.uk
www.neighbourhoodplanning.biz
How can businesses engage in Business Neighbourhood Planning, what
are the advantages of them doing so and what are the implications for
the character and quality of place at the City scale?