Cllr Economic Development Essex South East Willmott Dixon Barking Dagendham Residential Southend London Airport Stobart Group Expansion

Essex County Council has fired a warning shot over developers who use viability studies to wriggle out of housing projects. 

Cllr Gagan Mohindra, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, told delegates at our Essex and South East Development Plans Event that he has had discussions with central government about developers who use such methods or other means to claim some buildings schemes are no longer profitable.

Viability tests have been criticised in the past, particularly when they can give the opportunity for developers to renege on commitments to build affordable housing made while applying for planning permission if they can successfully argue that such housing would reduce their profit margin: “Some of the land value capture systems are not good enough in my view and I want to make sure that, in terms of legacy, we have developments that in 20 or 30-years’ time we’re still very proud of.”
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He also denied some of the regeneration plans being put forward by Thurrock Council were competing with Essex County Council’s proposals: “We’re involved in the Association of South Essex Local Authorities. Both Thurrock and Southend are both involved in that. We do talk. I think anything that is supportive and encourages economic growth in Thurrock and Southend will by its nature help Essex as well, so it’s not a threat.”

The Head of Corporate Projects at the Stobart Group, Kate Willard, spoke about her firms plans for London Southend Airport, which it owns as part of its aviation division.

She said: “We have huge growth plans. We have already invested £160m there and from next year, Ryanair will be basing three aircraft at Southend, which is very important to us. It means there will be 125 new flights weekly to 13 new destinations. We are also going to be resurfacing the runway and extending the terminal. People have a nice experience when they go through South airport. We do not want to spoil that by squashing people, so we will expand the footprint as people go through the airport.”

Talking about their expansion plans Kate announced a ‘Meet the Buyer’ event which would be exclusive to those who attended the Built Environment Networking conference in Chelmsford as they look to engage with more people from across the supply chain.

Speaking of the group’s philosophy and ethos she also commented: “We’ve owned London Southend Airport for 10 years and the reason why we are building our presence down here is that we have found great people to work with in the local authority. There are places in the country where we go and there is not the appetite for growth, or the right businesses for us to work with. We build businesses where we have a great footprint and we find people who we can work with.”

Weston Homes Director for Land Dawn Wylie spoke about their new project to build 1,100 new homes on Abbey Road in Barking. Planning documents went in for the first phase of the scheme last month, and they are expecting consent to be granted for the project in Spring 2019, with completion by 2025: “Our developments don’t take 25 years to come forward. We spent six to nine months in discussions with the landowner before agreeing the deal and following that we have spent the last six months talking with the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham who are incredibly proactive.”

She also promised that the new development would include a residential hub building, which has been designed to deal with some perils of modern living, particularly internet shopping: “The resident hub will have delivery rooms and cold storage, so you can order your shopping online at three o’clock in the afternoon and it will be there when you get home from work. We’re trying to react to the age we live in where everything is immediately available.”
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