South Staffordshire Strategic Sites – PPAs & Pre-Application Management

As part of our wider role supporting the delivery of South Staffordshire’s strategic housing allocations, we have led on the preparation and management of Planning Performance Agreements (PPAs) for multiple strategic sites. This includes setting clear project programmes, agreeing milestones with developers, and establishing effective reporting arrangements. We also managed the pre-application discussions between the Council, developers, and stakeholders ensuring all parties are aligned, technical matters are addressed early, and applications are well-prepared for submission.

 

Walsall – Development Management Support

We are commissioned by Walsall MBC’s Planning Department to provide case officer support on a range of planning applications. This involves working alongside their development management team to process and make recommendations on various types of proposals, helping the Council maintain their levels of service.

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Amber Valley -Local plan production and examination

We were appointed in 2023 to support the Council with managing the production of the Reg 19 Local Plan, submission and leading the examination process. On appointment we reviewed the emerging plan policies, evidence base and envisaged timescales. We undertook a strategic risk assessment and provided advice to the Leadership Team and Members. We embedded a member of our team in the Councils Local plans section for a number of days a week who has then led the team and overall programme management, reviewed the evidence base and prepared policy wording. Part of our role has included key stakeholder engagement in relation to Duty to Cooperate, liaison with Senior officers and Members, alongside commissioning of evidence documents. Support from a wider Hyas team resulted in further policy drafting, engagement activity and provision of training to officers and members.

Following our support, the Amber Valley Plan was approved at Full Council in December 2023 and the Regulation 19 consultation took place in February 2024. The Plan was submitted for examination in July and the Council are hoping to adopt in early 2025.

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Crews Hill & Chase Park, Enfield - Policy and Examination 

Hyas have been providing support to the London Borough of Enfield since 2022 to consider the approach to two strategic placemaking areas proposed for release from the Green Belt as part the emerging New Enfield Local Plan. Support relates to the comprehensive redevelopment of the Crews Hill area to provide 5,500 homes, and an urban extension at Chase Park for 3,700 homes. Hyas support has included working alongside Planning Policy Officers to consider the proposals through the various stages of preparing the Local Plan including acting as the Council’s Expert Witness to consider the sites at the Examination in Public in 2025. Hyas led in the preparation of key background evidence base documents including site specific Topic Papers and Spatial Frameworks, leading and managing the work of a range of other consultancies. Hyas are continuing to provide supporting in relation to placemaking, infrastructure, viability and deliverability of the sites, working with a range of key stakeholders, including Government agencies and the scheme promoters to bring the schemes forward into delivery, including potential for a larger scale long term strategic approach.

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West Bletchley – Neighbourhood Plan Support  

We supported West Bletchley Parish Council in the review of the West Bletchley Neighbourhood Plan. Working closely with the Parish Clerk, Hyas ensured the review process was undertaken in line with the correct statutory requirements. Firstly, we examined the evidence base and assessed existing policies for compliance with the revised NPPF and Plan:MK. This included a review of the strategy, vision, and objectives for West Bletchley. We drafted new policies and revised existing ones to reflect local challenges and opportunities, while also exploring the potential for further site allocations within the Plan. The final stage involved producing an accessible, desktop-published version of the Neighbourhood Plan.

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London Borough of Redbridge – Planning Support

We have been commissioned by London Borough of Redbridge to provide project leadership and support on specific Strategic Opportunity Sites for development through the Development Management process. In each case, we have helped formulate a project specific Planning Performance Agreement which has set out the required vision, objectives and required outcomes from the planning process, adopting a collaborative approach including pre-application and application stages, including site wide master planning, placemaking and urban design, infrastructure delivery and s106 agreements. We have led on the drafting of Committee reports and presented the officer report to the Planning Committee for determination.

 

Lichfield - New Settlement Feasibility Study

On behalf of Lichfield District Council Hyas were commissioned to undertake a New Settlement Feasibility Study. The study considered the timescales and deliverability of potential ‘new settlements’ within the District. The commission involved extensive engagement with officers, site promoters and key stakeholders to inform an understanding of key issues and opportunities for the new settlements with the outcomes informing officers research into preferred sites to be included in the Local Plan 2043.