Wates has secured full planning clearance for the £360 million transformation of the former Harrow Civic Centre site, paving the way for more than 1,000 new homes as part of the major Poets Corner regeneration. Harrow Council has issued the formal decision notice following completion of the Section 106 agreement,
The prospect of the government devolving more powers and resources could bring “exciting opportunities” to the capital, London Councils has declared. In its submission to the Autumn Budget, the cross-party group highlights the many priorities boroughs share with the government – including building council housing, helping more Londoners into work
McLaren has secured detailed planning consent for the first major phase of the £2 billion York Central regeneration, clearing the way for more than 1,000 homes, a new hotel and a major commercial district alongside York railway station. City of York Council has approved plans for phase 1C of the
Plans for 200 new council homes at Battersea Power Station have secured planning permission, marking another major step in the transformation of the landmark 42-acre regeneration site in London. The homes will be delivered by Battersea Power Station Development Company in partnership with Wandsworth Council on an undeveloped brownfield plot
Following a year-long procurement process, the Council has appointed award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group as its long-term strategic partner to accelerate the delivery of much-needed affordable homes, regeneration projects and investment across Lewisham. With more than 10,000 households on the housing register and 2,450 households living in temporary accommodation, the
The transformation of Derby’s Market Place has taken another step forward, with the signing of a MasterDevelopment Agreement between the Council and ION Property Developments Limited. Now in contract as the Council’s Strategic Development Partner, ION will work alongside the Council todeliver its plans to regenerate several sites across the
Morgan Sindall is set to secure a £6.5 million enabling works contract to launch the major redevelopment of Plymouth’s landmark Civic Centre, paving the way for its transformation into 144 build-to-rent homes. Plymouth City Council is expected to approve the package, allowing construction activity to begin immediately while detailed design
A full planning application for the scheme to transform Piccadilly Gardens has been submitted. The submission – the latest landmark in delivering the proposals to make Piccadilly Gardens more colourful, more vibrant, safer and more inviting – follows public consultation on the plans earlier this summer. Subject to planning permission being granted this autumn, work to
The Local Plan is a guide to development and growth in the city over the next fifteen years and Manchester people are invited to have their say for the final time yesterday. The Plan is a legal requirement for every Council to set out a long-term framework about how development
A major regeneration programme that could transform the heart of Portsmouth has taken a significant step forward after Portsmouth City Council selected ECF as its preferred development partner for the next phase of the ambitious City Centre North masterplan. The proposed regeneration has the potential to deliver up to 2,300
Wates has secured full planning clearance for the £360 million transformation of the former Harrow Civic Centre site, paving the way for more than 1,000 new homes as part of the major Poets Corner regeneration. Harrow Council has issued the formal decision notice following completion of the Section 106 agreement, almost a year after councillors resolved to approve the residential-led development. The milestone unlocks the site for Wates Residential and the council’s Harrow Strategic Development Partnership, allowing the team to progress one of the borough’s most significant regeneration projects. Detailed planning consent covers the first 530 homes, which will be delivered across three buildings rising to 12 storeys. This initial phase will include 422 Build to Rent apartments alongside 108 London Living Rent homes, creating a substantial new professionally managed rental community. Outline approval has also been granted for a further 528 homes in later phases, with buildings reaching up to 15 storeys. Together, the phases will deliver 1,058 new homes on the former civic site. Preparatory activity is already under way, with the council having previously approved demolition and other early works to prepare the site for the main construction programme. Affordable housing forms an important part of the development agreement. The completed Section 106 deal secures at least 192 affordable homes across the wider scheme. The regeneration will extend well beyond the construction of new apartments. Around 7,500 sq m of new public space is planned, alongside more than 4,000 sq m of children’s play space, helping create a new residential neighbourhood rather than a standalone housing development. A substantial multidisciplinary design and engineering team is supporting Wates and Harrow Council. Sheppard Robson is acting as lead architect and masterplanner, with BDP responsible for landscape design. Stantec is providing planning, civil and structural expertise, while WSP is delivering building services and sustainability work. The project will also provide employment and skills opportunities during its delivery, with the Section 106 agreement securing commitments for 35 apprenticeships, 63 work experience placements and 210 local labour roles. Poets Corner represents the largest element of Wates’ wider £690 million regeneration partnership with Harrow Council, which is ultimately expected to deliver approximately 1,500 homes across the borough. The scale of the programme reflects the increasingly important role of public-private partnerships in unlocking complex council-owned sites for new housing, while combining private rental, affordable homes, public realm and community benefits. For Harrow, the redevelopment will see a major former civic site transformed into a new residential neighbourhood with Build to Rent at its heart. With the Section 106 agreement completed and full planning clearance now secured, Poets Corner has passed a major development milestone, clearing the way for Wates to push ahead with the £360 million transformation. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The prospect of the government devolving more powers and resources could bring “exciting opportunities” to the capital, London Councils has declared. In its submission to the Autumn Budget, the cross-party group highlights the many priorities boroughs share with the government – including building council housing, helping more Londoners into work and generating good growth in every postcode. Through more fiscal autonomy for London and local government, boroughs emphasise that faster progress can be made achieving these ambitions. However, London Councils also warns of a growing funding gap in town hall budgets that threatens to destabilise local services and undermine delivery. London Councils’ latest analysis of local government finances in the capital forecasts up to a £1.2 billion funding gap this year (2026-27). London boroughs face a cumulative budget shortfall of £5.2 billion between now and 2030. Boroughs in the capital remain disproportionately reliant on emergency borrowing to avoid bankruptcy through the government’s Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) scheme. Nine of London’s 33 local authorities receive EFS. Cllr Stephen Cowan, Chair of London Councils, said: “The government’s devolution agenda offers exciting opportunities for the capital. “London is a leading global city and the powerhouse of the UK economy, but granting London more autonomy is critical to sustaining this success. “Strengthening London boroughs by devolving new fiscal resources would put us in a much stronger position to tackle London’s challenges, grow the economy, and maximise London’s contribution to the public coffers. The benefits would be felt not only by Londoners but by communities around the country. “Boroughs have a vital role to play, but are too often held back by enormous budget pressures. As we plan how best to invest in local services, to build housing, and to grow our economies, a worsening funding gap looms large over everything we do. For too long, the funding available to us has failed to keep pace with skyrocketing costs and demand for services. “Everyone knows the local government finance system is broken. The upcoming Budget is an opportunity to help stabilise town hall finances, give boroughs more fiscal tools, and support the local delivery we all want to see.” Policy priorities to help boost delivery in London On devolution, boroughs welcome the government’s recognition that strong local authorities are essential to the success of its devolution plans. Boroughs want to play a full and active part in shaping the next stages of London’s devolution journey. London Councils strongly believes that new fiscal devolution powers must apply to local authorities, with the design of devolved fiscal arrangements in the capital jointly decided between the Mayor and the boroughs. Boroughs’ fiscal devolution priorities include ensuring local authorities are able to retain and have a say in allocating at least 50% of revenues raised from an overnight visitor levy, retain more revenue from business rates and business rates growth, and ensure involvement in any new devolved income tax arrangements for the capital. On housing, London boroughs are determined to take the lead in delivering the largest council housing programme since the post-war period. To support this, London Councils is calling for further increases to grant funding, building on the investment previously announced for the Social and Affordable Homes Programme. With one in 50 Londoners homeless and living in temporary accommodation, the housing crisis is having a devastating impact on individuals but also on borough finances. London boroughs collectively spend £5.5m daily on homelessness provision. To relieve homelessness pressures, London Councils is seeking an end to the temporary accommodation subsidy gap through a lifting of the freeze on the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate payable for boroughs’ temporary accommodation costs, as well as an uplift of LHA to the 30th percentile of market rents. Almost 1.3 million Londoners are economically inactive, so employment and skills are another priority concern for boroughs. London Councils is asking the government to create a single, multi-year funding pot for all skills and employment support to be co-designed by boroughs alongside the GLA. London’s five Get Britain Working Trailblazers supported more than 6,000 Londoners in their first year. Boroughs are pushing for guaranteed funding for a third year of the trailblazers so that proven programmes due to end next year are not lost to a funding cliff-edge. On infrastructure, London Councils highlights the Bakerloo line extension and West London Orbital as priority transport projects. Boroughs also want London empowered to invest in its own growth by allowing the capital to retain land value uplift generated by infrastructure projects. This would support investment in the next generation of growth-enabling infrastructure. Funding gap analysis According to London Councils’ analysis of data supplied by boroughs, London local government faces a cumulative budget shortfall of £5.2 billion between now and 2030 (2026-27 until 2029-30). This is a worse picture than the £4.7 billion gap identified in October 2025, which itself was more than twice the £2.2 billion shortfall forecast the previous year, showing that the medium-term funding gap is continuing to grow. In the short-term, London boroughs are grappling with an almost £1.2 billion shortfall in this financial year (2026-27). Finance pressures are driven by the fast-rising cost of providing services and growing need from vulnerable Londoners. Adults’ and children’s social care, homelessness, and special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) services continue to see increasing levels of demand. Many of these services are statutory, meaning councils have a legal responsibility to provide them. Because local authorities also have a legal duty to balance their budgets (i.e. they cannot carry a deficit into the next financial year), boroughs will need to deliver savings to address this gap or face using their one-time financial reserves. The government’s 2025 Fair Funding Review improved funding levels for some London boroughs, but saw London’s overall share of national funding for local authorities reduce. After adjusting for inflation, per-capita funding for London boroughs will be almost 17% lower in 2028 than in 2010. Exceptional Financial Support London local government is disproportionately reliant on the government’s Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) scheme compared to other
McLaren has secured detailed planning consent for the first major phase of the £2 billion York Central regeneration, clearing the way for more than 1,000 homes, a new hotel and a major commercial district alongside York railway station. City of York Council has approved plans for phase 1C of the 110-acre brownfield development, which is being brought forward by McLaren Regeneration and Arlington Real Estate as part of one of the largest city-centre regeneration projects in the North of England. The approved phase will deliver 1,014 mixed-tenure homes, with at least 20% designated as affordable housing. Plans also include a 213-bedroom hotel and a new western entrance to York railway station, opening onto a new civic square and improving connections between the development and the wider city. Construction is expected to begin next year. The planning milestone follows more than £135 million of Government-funded infrastructure and enabling works undertaken to unlock the complex former railway land. Sisk has been delivering the infrastructure programme, including new roads, pedestrian and cycle connections and public realm improvements behind York station. Other elements of York Central are already progressing through the planning process. A separate 134,000 sq ft Government Property Agency office hub has been approved, providing workspace for up to 2,600 civil servants, alongside plans for Museum Square. The scale of the wider masterplan is substantial. Once completed, York Central is expected to provide at least 2,500 new homes and more than one million sq ft of commercial space, supporting an estimated 6,500 jobs. The project will effectively create a major new mixed-use neighbourhood within walking distance of York city centre, combining residential development, employment space, hospitality, public realm and improved transport infrastructure. Its regeneration has been discussed for around four decades, but the challenges associated with access, infrastructure and bringing a large area of former railway land back into productive use have historically prevented development from progressing. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner described York Central as an opportunity to transform derelict brownfield land into thousands of new homes, jobs and green spaces, while supporting wider economic growth. John Gatley, chief executive officer of McLaren Property Group, said the approval represented a major step forward for York following years of work between public and private sector partners. He added: “The real work starts now as we have the green light to convert our vision to reality.” With enabling infrastructure already taking shape and detailed consent now secured for more than 1,000 homes, York Central is moving from a long-standing regeneration ambition towards construction, creating a significant future pipeline for contractors, consultants and the wider built environment supply chain. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for 200 new council homes at Battersea Power Station have secured planning permission, marking another major step in the transformation of the landmark 42-acre regeneration site in London. The homes will be delivered by Battersea Power Station Development Company in partnership with Wandsworth Council on an undeveloped brownfield plot forming part of Phase 5 of the wider masterplan. All 200 properties will be operated by Wandsworth Council and made available at social rent levels through its Homes for Wandsworth programme. The development will include a mix of homes, including larger properties designed to meet the needs of families. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with completion targeted for 2029. Designed by Peckham-based Dowen Farmer Architects, the scheme will combine new housing with landscaped communal areas and ground-floor commercial and community uses. Residents will have access to communal gardens as well as a substantial south-facing roof garden, bringing additional green space into the development. Funding will be provided through Wandsworth Council’s Housing Revenue Account, supported by grant funding from the Greater London Authority. A multidisciplinary professional team has been assembled to progress the project, with Buro Happold appointed as structural engineer, MKP as M&E consultant and Cast Consultancy as cost consultant. The approval comes as attention increasingly turns towards the remaining phases of the Battersea Power Station regeneration. Around 16 acres of brownfield land are still to be developed, offering the potential for up to 3.2 million sq ft of additional residential, commercial, cultural and leisure space. Studio Egret West has been appointed to evolve the original masterplan created by Rafael Viñoly more than 15 years ago, as the development team considers how the remaining half of the regeneration site should respond to changing demands across London’s property market. Battersea Power Station Development Company chief executive James Saunders has also confirmed that a Section 73 planning application covering the future phases is due to be submitted later this month. The latest approval adds an important affordable housing element to one of London’s most prominent regeneration projects. The redevelopment of the former power station and its surrounding land has already created a major new mixed-use destination, combining homes, offices, retail, leisure and public realm around the restored Grade II* listed landmark. With 200 council homes now approved and further phases being reconsidered, Battersea Power Station is entering another significant period of construction and development as its long-term regeneration continues. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Following a year-long procurement process, the Council has appointed award-winning housebuilder The Hill Group as its long-term strategic partner to accelerate the delivery of much-needed affordable homes, regeneration projects and investment across Lewisham. With more than 10,000 households on the housing register and 2,450 households living in temporary accommodation, the partnership is designed to help tackle Lewisham’s housing crisis by delivering new homes faster and at greater scale. Under the partnership, the Council and Hill will work together to deliver new homes and regeneration projects across the borough over the next 10 years, with the potential to extend for a further five years. The agreement can span up to £1.5 billion of construction delivery[LM1] in Lewisham. Rather than appointing a different developer for every project, the Council will work directly with Hill over the long term, helping bring forward new homes and projects more quickly and consistently, while retaining greater control over quality, affordability, sustainability and delivery timescales. As well as delivering new homes, Hill is committed to creating new local jobs, skills training and education opportunities as well as investment in the community, ensuring local people benefit from development in their neighbourhoods. The partnership will support different types of housing projects. In some cases, the Council will develop and own the affordable homes. In others, Hill will invest in the development, with the Council given first choice to buy the affordable homes. The first projects as part of the partnership are already underway and include: Drawing on Hill’s extensive experience of delivering long-term projects in partnership with the public sector, Lewisham Council will be able to maximise value through better-informed design and development decisions from the outset.[OU2] Councillor Daniel Dream, Cabinet Member for Inclusive Regeneration, Planning and Housing Delivery, said: “With more than 10,000 households on the housing register and nearly 2,500 families in temporary accommodation, we need to build the homes our community needs faster. This partnership cuts red tape and gives the Council greater control over quality, affordability and delivery. We are looking forward to working with The Hill Group, an award-winning housebuilder with a proven track record, to deliver the homes, jobs and investment our community needs over the next decade.” Andy Hill OBE, Founder and Chief Executive of The Hill Group, said: “We are delighted to have been selected by Lewisham Council as its Strategic Development Partner and look forward to working together to help deliver the borough’s ambitious housing and regeneration programme. “What makes this partnership particularly important is the opportunity to combine our expertise in regeneration, placemaking and delivery with the Council’s vision for the future of Lewisham. Long-term partnerships such as this create the certainty and alignment needed to unlock technically complex sites, enable more efficient delivery and ensure developments genuinely reflect the needs of local communities. “Our track record has been built on successful partnerships with local authorities and housing providers across London and the South East, and we are excited to bring that experience to Lewisham as we begin work on Thomas’ Lane Yard, Achilles Street and future projects across the borough.” Notes Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The transformation of Derby’s Market Place has taken another step forward, with the signing of a MasterDevelopment Agreement between the Council and ION Property Developments Limited. Now in contract as the Council’s Strategic Development Partner, ION will work alongside the Council todeliver its plans to regenerate several sites across the city centre, including the Market Place. Outline plans for the Market Place, which were drawn up using feedback from two public consultationsand approved by the Council’s Planning Committee in July, include Derby MADE. Sitting on the site of theformer Assembly Rooms, the multi-use building will feature a music venue, cultural / exhibition space, ayoung person and family library, and dedicated flexible working and meeting areas. It will be complementedby Derby HOTEL, a four-star hotel and high-quality office space in Derby WORKS. ION is a long-established developer with a strong track record of working with partners, including localauthorities, to deliver regeneration projects. Recent schemes include the Wolverhampton Interchange onbehalf of City of Wolverhampton Council, the Knowledge Quarter Gateway for Liverpool City Council andRhyl Waterfront for Denbighshire County Council. Earlier this year, ION underwent a buyout and merger with VINCI UK Developments, the UK division of themultinational VINCI Construction, cementing the two companies’ existing relationship and furtherstrengthening their delivery capabilities. Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration,Strategy and Policy, said: “This is another important milestone in our plans to revive this important and historic site in the heart ofDerby. We know how desperate everyone is to see work starting on site, me included, and the signing ofthis contract brings that day even closer. “ION Property Developments has an excellent record for delivering regeneration projects on this scale. Bybringing a private sector development partner on board, we can benefit from their expertise, capacity andinvestment to help bring these ambitious plans for the city centre to life.” Steve Parry, Managing Director of ION Property Developments, said: “We are delighted to have entered into the Master Development Agreement with Derby City Council and tobe moving into the next phase of our partnership. “ION, together with the wider VINCI business, is fully committed to the long-term delivery of this importantregeneration programme. By combining ION’s development and regeneration expertise with VINCI’s widerresources, financial strength and delivery capability, we believe we have a very strong platform from whichto turn the Council’s ambitious plans into deliverable projects on the ground. “Our focus now is on working closely with the Council to maintain momentum, progress the Market Placeproposals and deliver lasting benefits for Derby and its city centre.” Once the planning conditions associated with the demolition of the Assembly Rooms have beenremoved, ION will begin preparing the site. This will include disconnecting utilities and creating a secureand safe working environment, which will take a number of weeks. Work to demolish the site is expected to take around 12 months and, once this is complete, work on thenew buildings will begin. Demolition consent for the Assembly Rooms was granted in March 2024. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Morgan Sindall is set to secure a £6.5 million enabling works contract to launch the major redevelopment of Plymouth’s landmark Civic Centre, paving the way for its transformation into 144 build-to-rent homes. Plymouth City Council is expected to approve the package, allowing construction activity to begin immediately while detailed design and procurement work continues on the main phase of the £50 million regeneration. The council and development partner Capital&Centric have divided the complex high-rise refurbishment into two principal packages as the project progresses through requirements under the Building Safety Act. Moving ahead with the enabling works separately is expected to prevent potential delays of up to a year and allow important investigation, demolition and remediation preparation to take place ahead of the second-stage design and tender process. Designed by BDP, the wider regeneration will breathe new life into the long-vacant former council headquarters, converting the prominent city centre building into 144 rental homes operated through Capital&Centric’s Ollo residential brand. Morgan Sindall’s initial package will include the removal of remaining external cladding to enable detailed structural surveys, together with asbestos removal and extensive internal and external demolition works. The programme will also see the removal of the building’s 1970s extension as preparations gather pace for the more substantial second phase. Once enabling works are complete, the main remediation and construction programme is expected to include repairs to the existing concrete frame, strengthening of floors, upgraded fire protection and roof works, alongside the installation of new façades. The retrofit-led approach will retain and repurpose one of Plymouth’s most recognisable post-war buildings while introducing new residential use into the city centre. More than £18 million of Homes England Brownfield Infrastructure Land funding has already been secured to support the regeneration, which received planning permission and listed building consent in July. The project forms part of wider investment in Plymouth’s city centre built environment, with the conversion of the former Civic Centre supporting the creation of new homes while bringing a prominent vacant building back into productive use. Morgan Sindall’s expected appointment also follows the contractor’s recent completion of the £30 million transformation of nearby Armada Way. Delivered over a two-year construction programme, the public realm project represents another major element of investment in central Plymouth. Subject to final approval of the enabling works contract, Morgan Sindall will now begin preparing the Civic Centre for its next chapter, ahead of the larger construction and remediation programme that will transform the landmark building into a new build-to-rent residential development. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A full planning application for the scheme to transform Piccadilly Gardens has been submitted. The submission – the latest landmark in delivering the proposals to make Piccadilly Gardens more colourful, more vibrant, safer and more inviting – follows public consultation on the plans earlier this summer. Subject to planning permission being granted this autumn, work to make the plans a reality will begin as soon as possible. Public consultation on the detailed design built on previous extensive consultation about what people wanted from Piccadilly Gardens and included drop-in sessions and an online questionnaire. Hundreds responded and were broadly supportive of the plans, with more than half (58%) believing they will provide a safe and welcoming new space, 67% saying they provided clear walking routes and almost three-quarters (70%) saying they would create a greener and more colourful space. Concerns were raised by some about anti-social behaviour and how the transformed Piccadilly Gardens will be kept inviting. The Council and its partners, including Greater Manchester Police and Transport for Greater Manchester, recognise that creating a better Piccadilly Gardens cannot just be about physical improvements but will also require new ways of managing the space to ensure it is maintained as a safe and inviting space. Work to develop this new way of managing the space is ongoing and improvements are already underway, including a strengthened police presence through GMP’s dedicated neighbourhood policing team. In addition to the main consultation, a series of listening and engagement sessions were also carried out with parents and children around the refreshed children’s play area to ensure it reflects their aspirations. New images of how the children’s play area will look have been released as part of the wider application. Key elements of the application include: The plans will also support a safer space through improved sightlines, better lighting and enhanced CCTV. Interim Council Leader Cllr Garry Bridges said: “The moment has arrived when we’re ready to submit our planning application to transform Piccadilly Gardens. It’s taken a lot of work to get to this significant point. “Residents have told us loud and clear what they want from Piccadilly Gardens. They want the area to look better and feel safer and that’s exactly what we’re going to deliver. “There has already been significant investment in the area – including extra police and council resources – with even more on the way. “This application will see a much-improved space: Putting the Gardens back in Piccadilly Gardens, providing a better children’s play area and supporting a more inviting place all round.” The application reference is PLA-2026-001348 viewable at: https://arcusbe.manchester.gov.uk/pr/s/detail/a1DSl000009RsaD Once the physical works are completed, the Council aims to ensure a regular stream of bespoke family-friendly activity and seasonal events to enjoy. The new scheme will complement other changes taking place in the immediate vicinity of the Gardens, including the major Rylands redevelopment (of the Grade II-listed former Debenhams building) which is creating a new office, retail and leisure destination, and the recently-approved plans to refurbish and improve One Piccadilly Gardens . Further planned improvements to the area around Piccadilly Gardens in the coming years will include a multi-million pound investment by Transport for Greater Manchester to create a new, modern transport interchange. In March this year Galliford Try were appointed as lead contractor, working with landscape architect and lead designer Planit and civil, structural and highways engineers Civic to deliver the Piccadilly Gardens transformation. City of Manchester Chief Inspector Mike Tachauer said: “We welcome the next phase of the planning application for the new-look Piccadilly Gardens. Senior officers have been involved in consultations from the outset to ensure there is a strong policing input into these plans. Piccadilly Gardens is a space that everyone should feel safe and secure when travelling in and around the area. Our officers have ensured that elements pertaining to public safety have been one of the key focuses in the planning process including better lighting and more CCTV. “We have had several experienced police officers who have strong experience around policing Piccadilly Gardens who have given an input to these plans, and there are a number of elements we have learnt from, for example, understanding how planters can be misused by those involved in criminality and how we can deter this from happening. “There is also cross organisational understanding that the safety of the Gardens is a multi-agency partnership that we all need to be involved in to ensure everyone is doing their bit to keep our communities safe.” Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner for Greater Manchester, said: “These exciting plans for Piccadilly Gardens will bring vast improvements for everyone who passes through it and for the numerous businesses who operate in the vicinity. The Bee Network is already transforming how people move around Greater Manchester and we are developing plans with the local community for a modern transport interchange linking buses, Metrolink and active travel that will help create a city centre that is greener, better connected and welcoming for everyone.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Local Plan is a guide to development and growth in the city over the next fifteen years and Manchester people are invited to have their say for the final time yesterday. The Plan is a legal requirement for every Council to set out a long-term framework about how development should be considered through the planning process, including new housing – as well as affordable homes – green spaces, development that creates employment opportunities, infrastructure projects such as roads, health facilities and schools – and how the city will achieve net zero carbon. The Plan complements a range of strategies and policies that look to deliver the vision of the Council. An initial consultation took place in September 2025 starting a process of review and engagement through the last year. This consultation attracted 2,184 responses that have since been considered by planning officers to help update the draft local plan. The Local Plan is currently going through Regulation 19, which is the final version of the plan before it is referred to a government inspector for public examination. The public will be asked for their comments relating to how ‘workable’ the draft plan is in practice, which is a requirement set out by Government. This ‘test of soundness’ asks the public: does the plan meet its objectives. Key changes to the draft local plan following previous consultation: Take part in the Local Plan consultation Local people, community organisations, businesses and stakeholders can take part in the consultation, submitting their views online via an online platform and all details are available on the following council web page A hard copy of the consultation will also be made available in Manchester Central Library. The consultation will remain open until Monday 28 Sept. The previous Manchester Local Plan was adopted in 2012. The current review was delayed while the Greater Manchester Places for Everyone plan was adopted, into which the Manchester Plan must align. Following consultation, the final draft of Manchester’s Local Plan will be submitted to a government inspector with an expectation that the plan will be adopted in the summer of 2027. Cllr Gavin White, Manchester City Council’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “It’s important that future development plays its part well in making sure Manchester remains a great place to live, with great homes that our residents can afford in attractive neighbourhoods that they want to live in with quality green spaces nearby. This is the role of the Local Plan – to help guide development to help us deliver our vision and ambition. “The Local Plan will complement a range of other strategies delivering for our city, in particular our housing strategy that has set an ambitious target to deliver at least 36,000 new homes by 2032 – 10,000 of which will be social, Council and genuinely affordable homes. And the Local Plan looks to increase the target of social rent and affordable homes each year to deliver the homes our residents need. “Last year we saw thousands of responses that have helped guide our Local Plan review. This is the final chance for Manchester people to comment on the updated draft local plan, and we’d encourage as many people as possible to take part of play their part in guiding development in our city.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major regeneration programme that could transform the heart of Portsmouth has taken a significant step forward after Portsmouth City Council selected ECF as its preferred development partner for the next phase of the ambitious City Centre North masterplan. The proposed regeneration has the potential to deliver up to 2,300 new homes alongside commercial, leisure and public realm improvements, creating one of the largest mixed-use developments on the South Coast. The 13.25-hectare brownfield site, which occupies land formerly home to the now-demolished Tricorn shopping centre and surrounding car parks, is set to be reimagined as a vibrant new city centre neighbourhood that combines residential, commercial and community uses. ECF – the regeneration partnership between Homes England’s National Housing Bank, Legal & General (L&G) and Muse – will now work alongside Portsmouth City Council to assess development options before progressing towards a formal development agreement. For the construction and property sectors, the appointment marks another major regeneration opportunity that could unlock substantial investment, housing delivery and long-term economic growth while bringing a strategically important city centre site back into productive use. Alongside a mix of homes across different tenures, the emerging masterplan includes new commercial workspace, leisure facilities and improved pedestrian connections designed to increase footfall, strengthen the local economy and create a more accessible and attractive urban environment. A key feature of the proposals will be more than 240,000 sq ft of new public realm, including a significant urban park that will provide valuable green space for residents, workers and visitors while enhancing the overall quality of the city centre. The regeneration reflects the growing emphasis on brownfield redevelopment as local authorities seek to deliver sustainable housing growth by repurposing underutilised urban land rather than expanding onto greenfield sites. Sir Michael Lyons, Chairman of ECF, said: “We’re looking forward to working with Portsmouth City Council over the coming months to explore the site in detail, test what’s deliverable here, and build the case for how we might take this forward together.” ECF has built a strong reputation for delivering large-scale regeneration projects across the UK, with an extensive portfolio that includes developments in Canning Town, Stockport, Bradford, Wolverhampton, Northampton and Stevenage. If brought forward, City Centre North has the potential to become one of Portsmouth’s most significant regeneration projects in decades, delivering new homes, employment opportunities, public spaces and commercial investment while creating a thriving mixed-use destination that supports the city’s long-term economic and residential growth ambitions. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals