The commercial property industry and local communities haven’t always seen eye-to-eye on development opportunities. Neither have they been hand-in-hand.
This may be about to change due to a published report, produced by the Land and Society Commission, urging the hands of the commercial property industry to join those belonging to local communities in grasping power, via the Localism Bill.
Introduced to Parliament in late 2010, the Bill has decentralisation at its heart. According to the government, it aims to devolve some commercial property decision-making ‘from central government back into the hands of individuals, communities and councils.’
The Commission, set up by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), comprises 14 members representing views and expertise across private, public and voluntary sectors. A new relationship is called for, promoting collaboration and flexibility between commercial property professionals and communities. Aiming to dispel conceptions that local community involvement can hinder private sector development, local bodies lacking ‘experience, capacity and structure’ are urged to consult developers who can fill gaps in knowledge.
Included are examples of communities being consulted prior to starting new developments, leading to projects built to a higher specification, with greater sustainability.
Twenty-four recommendations are included: spanning community investment; neighbourhood planning; community housing; community asset acquisition and management; valuation; capacity building; and the role of the residential and commercial property professions.
Within these, an assessment of local capabilities, resources and desire is stated as vital to effect the changes and utilise the Localism Bill’s possibilities. Other ideas are that local authority planning officers move into local communities rather than be based in town halls, which should lead to better informed decision-making in commercial property planning proposals.
If the recommendations are acted on, the planning and construction process can be accelerated, risk reduced, and value added to property suggested Trevor Beattie, Chair of the Land and Society Commission.
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