Property Policy Group
The group exists to exchange information on the development of property in the City of Edinburgh and beyond, both in terms of new build and of renovation of existing properties for both commercial and residential purposes from the point of view of property development companies.
In so doing the group acknowledges the key importance to Edinburgh's economy of willing investors, both from within and without the City. It also accepts that a wide group of stakeholders has an interest in the development process and agrees to work with them wherever possible to obtain mutually beneficial outcomes.
It agrees to identify and address challenges to the sector and develop solutions co-operatively with other interested parties. Participation of supporting services, and agencies is agreed to be useful as required. Core membership of this group remains property developers with the Chamber executive as facilitators.
It is open to the Chamber to form sub-groups on specific areas of interest including all appropriate parties. It is important to maintain good links with other appropriate bodies (e.g. City of Edinburgh Council, Scottish Property Federation)
Past Achievements
The outstanding achievement of the group has been the creation of the Planning Concordat. This ground breaking piece of work arose from a process where then members of the group alongside Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce engaged with the City of Edinburgh Council in a considered and managed attempt to get all parties listening to each other and better understanding each others' needs.Through a series of meetings and events a final document engineered on the group's behalf by a team led by Richard Slipper of GVA Grimley was signed in Spring 2010 by the Council and by Dr Ali Afshar on behalf of this policy group. Enterprise Minister Jim Mather MSP described the agreement as 'best in class' and City of Edinburgh Council have put the Concordat forward for a civic award. Ongoing joint training sessions with the Planning Committee and officers are a continuing aspect of this process.
There has been considerable engagement by members of the group with the City Council over a range of specific issues, including Section 75 agreements and Affordable Housing requirements.
The group has also met with the Council over issues of Public Realm, management planning and funding, and additionally with Jim Mackinnon of the Scottish Government to explore how planning issues are best assisted at the level of government policy.
The group previously held a joint meeting with Stewart Stevenson MSP and Linda Fabiani MSP (then Ministers for Built Environment and Heritage respectively) to explore issues relating to Heritage and planning consents. This resulted in a major announcement the following week endorsing the group's position. Meetings have been held with Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, The Cockburn Association and Historic Scotland across the last three years addressing this agenda. Bruce Hare of Duddingston House Properties kindly made Duddingston House available for a ground breaking event at which all three conservation groups engaged with a debate with the development community for the first time.
Whilst there remain unresolved issues in the planning process it cannot be denied that the group has been hugely instrumental in creating a cultural change in the planning process, partly because off the willingness of developer members to also see 'the other point of view'.
The Edinburgh Design Forum has been another useful outcome, where stakeholders can share views on future development in the City. The group continues to work for an effective public display area to showcase design ideas and invite public engagement early in the planning process.
Future Function & Purpose
The group wishes to attract and keep members who are actively involved in the development of new or refurbished accommodation. Members need to commit to attend meetings (and send a deputy if unable) at least three out of four times per annum. It is also desirable that they make themselves available for external activities such as joint workshops, information and lobbying sessions and so on, as required.
The group will continue to identify key people to address their meetings on issues in which they are knowledgeable. This includes officers within the local authority(ies) and the Scottish Government, and in other appropriate organisations, such as the aforementioned heritage groups, Homes for Scotland, National Housing Trust, or indeed professional advisors as appropriate. It also needs to communicate effectively with overlapping bodies, such as the Scottish Property Federation.
Key issues currently include:
- The removal of inhibitors to development investment in the present straitened economic circumstances (e.g. a moratorium on affordable housing agreements, and tying Section 75 agreements in to project profitability).
- Building better understanding with the City Council's Planning Committee.
- Regular review meetings with senior officers in the City's Development/Planning function (say quarterly) to ensure communication lines are open and current issues are dealt with.
- Meeting with senior politicians and officers in the City Council to explore such difficulties and options, including quality of delivery and speed of decisions as well as items mentioned above.
- Funding for both development projects and ancillary infrastructure costs, and solutions to this area of impasse. The need to attract substantial investment from London/South East . Issues around securing cash flow from residential projects. Clearing blockages to bank lending is a major issue.
- Making position statements as appropriate.
- Organising relevant events.
For more information, or to apply to join the group, please email: alia@amanewtown.co.uk
Please also copy in our Press & Policy Consultant, Graham Bell: graham.bell@edinburghchamber.co.uk
News
City signs up for a new approach to planning
A new planning concordat, the first of its kind in Scotland, was agreed by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and the City of Edinburgh Council in May 2010.
You can find out more about the concordat and download the document by clicking here, and you can also download the document by clicking on the Planning Concordat link in the Resources section below.
Resources
