2024: The Year in Review
We have had another busy year at SP Broadway, trusted by you to provide political and community engagement support on a host of projects across the UK.
From strategic Green Belt sites in the Home Counties to sensitive developments in the heart of central London, we have been on the front line in 2024 communicating your vision to politicians, residents and local media. We have supported schemes across a range of sectors including data centres, film studios, hotels, universities, business parks and retirement communities, as well as new homes; at the end of our fifteenth year in the business, there are very few councils remaining south of Birmingham where we do not have some experience or footprint.
This year we have supported projects from Tamworth in the Midlands to Axminster in the South West, Canterbury in the South East and all points in-between; achieving planning consents for new homes in North Warwickshire, West Berkshire and West Sussex (to name a few) and helping to secure the adoption of a Masterplan Framework for a significant urban extension in North Hertfordshire.
During 2024 we have also continued to host our regular ‘Politics of Planning’ roundtables, and we are grateful to so many senior councillors for joining us to explain the vision for their area and take part in lively Q&As with our guests. This year we hosted events with representatives from Epping Forest, Chelmsford, West Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Brighton, Mole Valley and West Berkshire Councils, as well as special sessions with Clive Betts MP (former Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee) and the Rt Hon Nick Raynsford, member of the Government’s New Towns Taskforce. Our events programme picks up again early in the new year, with the planning portfolio holders of Somerset and Southampton Councils joining us in January and February respectively.
2024 of course saw the political landscape shift dramatically, with Labour securing a huge majority at the general election in July. The Starmer Government has set a decisive tone, making planning and economic growth a key pillar of its manifesto and policy agenda, and we look forward to supporting clients under the (at last!) revised NPPF. In the meantime, we have been playing our part to help communicate policy ideas to the new Government, organising an in-person event with Housing and Planning Minister Matthew Pennycook MP at the Labour Party Conference in association with the Fabian Society. This gave attendees an opportunity to gain early insight into Labour’s planning programme as well as put questions to the Minister, and it was great to see so many familiar faces in the audience.
Looking ahead, we have two data centre applications and a film studio proposal set for determination by the Secretary of State – fingers firmly crossed; and we are looking forward to discussing the new NPPF and the politics of planning with Andrew Lewin MP, Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for New Towns, and Florence Eshalomi MP, Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee at the Planning Futures New Year Reception at the House of Commons on 16th January.
Wherever you find yourself this Christmas, we wish you a peaceful and restful break, and we look forward to supporting you and your projects in 2025.
Happy Christmas and best wishes,
The SP Broadway Team
