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Our People Added Value
We are happy to support clients through any part of the project bringing in specialists from across our disciplines. Our multi-disciplinary appraoch allows for onestop-shop making the process easier.
Regional growth is fundamental to the future success of the UK economy. At Iceni we recognise that no two places are the same .
We have a clear focus on place and people. We work with public and private sector clients to understand the character of locations, the priorities of communities, and the realities of delivery, shaping responses that are grounded, relevant and deliverable.
Our work is truly national in scale. We operate across England and Scotland, combining a strong regional presence with the ability to mobilise multi-disciplinary teams wherever our clients need us. This allows us to bring consistency of advice, while remaining responsive to local policy, politics and market conditions in each location we work.
We bring together archaeology; built heritage and townscape; design; economics; engagement; impact management; landscape; planning, sustainability and transport into a single, integrated offer. This joined-up approach enables us to unlock complex sites, support investment decisions and deliver outcomes that respond to both national priorities and local challenges.
As an employee-owned business, we work as one team. Our structure allows us to collaborate openly across disciplines and geographies, ensuring clients benefit from the full breadth of our expertise wherever they are operating.
Our specialists are collaborative and forward thinking highperformers ; chosen for their ability to get great results .
Iceni offers a range of socio-economic services, delivered by our dedicated in-house team of experienced professionals.
Our socio-economic offering includes:
f Socio-Economic Assessments (and associated EIA ES chapters)
f Economic benefits Infographics
f Health Impact Assessments (HIA)
f Equality Impact Assessments (EqIA)
f Social Infrastructure Audits (SIA)
f Local Living Assessments (Scotland)
f Bespoke socio-economic research
f Social value reports
f S106 negotiation
As an experienced planning consultancy, we work closely with clients to ensure that socio-economic reports are proportionate to the scale of the development, and comply with each specific planning authority’s requirements. We are adept at interpreting and analysing complex demographic and economic data, providing valuable insights in a straightforward and meaningful way.
Our People Added Value
Socio-economic assessments identify the potential economic and social impacts of proposed development, alongside the key receptors that are likely to be impacted. These can be a standalone report supporting a planning application or a chapter within an Environmental Statement (EIA). Where positive impacts are identified, measures to enhance and increase their reach are provided, while comprehensive and proportionate mitigations are suggested for any negative impacts (as appropriate). Iceni has extensive experience of carrying out socio-economic assessments with over 50 assessments prepared for sites across the country.
We prepared a socio-economic ES chapter for the development of 1,064 residential units and 1,300 Sqm commercial and community use on land occupied by the existing Harrow Civic Centre. The assessment showed the scheme would deliver a range of socio-economic benefits during construction and once operational. Recommendations included working with Harrow’s employment service to create apprenticeships and local jobs, alongside planning contributions to help offset pressure on social infrastructure
We undertook a socio-economic assessment for the redevelopment of the St Enoch Centre in Glasgow City Centre from retailing to residential and office use. The assessment identified major beneficial impacts for the local economy and the viability of existing shops and services in the area, as well as contributing towards Glasgow’s housing target (including affordable provision).
Iceni prepared a socio-economic ES chapter for the development of over 400 homes, residential care accommodation and a 15.000sqm community and commercial hub in Welwyn Garden City. The chapter idenitified numerour socio-economic benefits while providing recommendations uch as the need for planning contributions to the relevant social infrastructure to accommodate the future residents on the Site.
A Health Impact Assessment is a tool to identify and optimise the health and wellbeing impacts of planning. It usually assesses a policy or proposal that does not have health improvement as its primary objective but could have unintended effects for people’s health. Many local authorities require a HIA for major planning applications. Iceni have a strong track record in delivering HIAs with using various methods as required by individual local authorities.
We conducted an HIA for a 25 storey, 400 room student accommodation block with commercial uses. We undertook a national, regional and local policy framework review. A baseline profile of the local population followed, to identify relevant population groups who may be affected by the development. An assessment of the impacts was undertaken (eg impacts on local GP practices), and no negative impacts were identified.
We undertook HIAs for the redevelopment of four sites for residential and commercial use across Oldham Town Centre, including the former civic centre site. The schemes were identified as delivering a range of health benefits for priority and vulnerable groups within the area and were considered to align with the objectives of the NPPF, the Oldham Core Strategy, and the Places for Everyone Joint Development Plan.
We prepared a HIA for an outline application for a residential led scheme of around 850 new homes at land West of Bowers Gifford in Basildon. The assessment utilised the Essex Healthy Places Checklist as set out in the Essex Healthier Places
guidance. Recommendations for improving the positive health impacts of the scheme were provided to be monitored throughout subsequent stages of the planning application to reflect the evolving nature of detailed design and delivery.
A Social Infrastructure Audit (SIA) considers the existing provision of community infrastructure, to assess the potential impact of development on social and community facilities in the locality. A SIA can feed into the design development process, supporting the identification of potential benefits for the local community.
A SIA was undertaken for a co-living accommodation scheme in Lambeth. This demonstrated that the provision of community facilities (including healthcare, leisure, open space and education) locally was sufficient to meet the needs of both current and future residents.
A SIA was prepared for a residential development of up to 175 homes in Stockport. This provided an overview of social infrastructure within walking distance of the Site demonstrating that it is sufficient to meet the arising needs of the anticipated resident population.
The Equality Act 2010 imposes a legal duty to consider the impact on equalities in all policy and decision making. EqIAs assist Councils in their assessment of proposals in line with their obligations. An EqIA provides the framework to analyse evidence to identify the likely positive and negative impacts on certain protected characteristic groups.
An EqIA was undertaken for the construction of a new fit-forpurpose care home in Southwark. This involved a baseline review of the demographics of the local area (including home residents), followed by an in-depth assessment of potential impacts on protected characteristic groups. For example, this explored the prevalence of dementia within the borough, and the need for dementia care available locally. Mitigations were suggested, including ways to minimise construction impacts.
An EqIA was prepared for the redevelopment of a warehouse site to provide up to 610 Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA), as well as affordable residential units and commercial floorspace. We recommended mitigation measures including designing open space to reduce crime and fear of crime, and ensuring homes are easily adaptable for lifetime use. This helped ensure the development would not cause discriminatory adverse impacts on any protected group.
A Local Living Assessment outlines the existing level of provision of social infrastructure in the area to consider whether there is sufficient capacity to accommodate the population associated with the proposal. It informs the evolution of the proposals to ensure that a high-quality, accessible, neighbourhood can be achieved. The assessment draws on 20-minute neighbourhoods and catchment areas to assess relevant services and facilities.
We undertook a Local Living Assessment to provide a contextual understanding of the social and community infrastructure surrounding land at Bridge of Weir. The assessment comprised of population and deprivation profiling, a baseline capacity assessment, and a review of current and future service provision, concluding with a set of recommendations. Recommendations included open space / local growing space at the Site, to augment current provision, as well as implementation of a travel plan to improve accessibility.
We undertook a Local Living Assessment to provide a contextual understanding of the social and community infrastructure surrounding Hamlet B at the former Gartloch Hospital site. This included an assessment of the capacity of local schools, GPs and other healthcare facilities, as well as an audit of community facilities, open space, sport facilities, local retail and employment provision. Recommendations included the delivery of on-site play space, and the implementation of traffic-calming measures to reduce through traffic, thereby supporting active travel.
Social Value reports set out how developments can support social inclusion and deliver social value throughout their lifecycle. They also provide a framework for engagement with local stakeholders, helping to inform discussions around local priorities and the types of social value initiatives that should be prioritised
A Social Value Strategy was developed to support the full planning application for the development of the new Greater Manchester Institute of Technology (GMIoT) teaching building on the University of Salford (UoS) Campus.
In addition to creating new jobs and opportunities in Salford, the report identified the potential for the development to act as a catalyst for wider, locally embedded benefits, including employment and skills development, support for local businesses and SMEs, and positive outcomes for the local community.
In areas where there is no CIL charge -and in many areas where there is – authorities seek S106 monies to offset the effects of development on infrastructure such as schools and health services. This can often be a standard formula that fails to take into account the existing capacity of facilities and suitability of the monies sought. Iceni has worked with many development partners to scrutinise the request for S106 monies and assisted in negotiating for reasonable and reduced sums, including through the appeal process.
Iceni acted for the developed or a large scale employment site in Essex. The County had put forward a request for a contribution on training and skills. Iceni were asked to independently review this and considered that the underlying modelling in the County’s approach to employment forecasting was unrealistic, which led to a significant downward revision in the amount sought being agreed.
Iceni acting for a housebuilder was asked to review the significant contributions arising for education contributions. By examining the local education capacity, the forecast for the current development and a reasonable catchment and school vacancy rate, it was agreed that only secondary and not primary education was justified, a reduction of over £400,000 in the S106 requirement.
Our People Added Value
The team brings together expertise from planning, economics, stakeholder engagement and research, providing our clients with the confidence that all work is completed in a comprehensive, informed and thorough manner.
You can learn more about our other services and our people at mkinghan@iceniprojects.com
Matt Kinghan Director
Socio-Economics, Planning
E: mkinghan@Iceniprojects.com
T: 07753 222 920
Lydia Frimley Consultant, Economics
E: lfrimley@iceniprojects.com
T: 07760 653 824
Alison Conmee Senior Consultant
Socio-Economics, Planning
E: aconmee@Iceniprojects.com
T: 07584 306 029
Nadine Fisher Senior Consultant
Socio-Economics, Planning
E: nfisher@Iceniprojects.com
T: -
Dora Mirzai Assistant Consultant, Economics
E: dmirzai@iceniprojects.com
T: 07353 097 105
Abi Rhodes Associate Director, Economics
E: lfrimley@iceniprojects.com
T: 07353 104 433
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Irrespective of the scale, complexity or societal benefits of a development proposal, it will always attract local opposition, which makes decision taking harder.
Iceni prides itself on formulating new, distinct and innovative tools and techniques for demonstrating why new development should be supported and why it will have positive transformational positive effects on communities.
We have developed our own techniques for formulating development proposals, operating at the local level within communities to identify how developments can have the greatest effect on peoples lives, and be delivered in a highly successful and sustainable way.
Whilst Iceni is a national consultancy, we pride ourselves on having a thorough local understanding of the communities we are seeking to change. We therefore have a suite of area based experts to understand, monitor and identify planning and political change across geographic areas.
This work extends beyond monitoring of Local Plans and considers issues such as the political composition and priorities of an area. Objectively Assessed Need and signs of market failure across the full use spectrum from housing, through employment to social and transport infrastructure. We also monitor significant planning decisions and the ways in which planning policies are applied in practice through casework decisions at Planning Committees and the Planning Inspectorate. This work greatly enhances the quality of the commercial advice we provide.
iSite pulls together a number of services to enable the promoter of a project – but equally the respective consultant, local authority, consultee, local community and wider interested party – to gain the knowledge and understanding of a site or location that historically has only been possible from an in-depth site visit. Moreover, many projects are of the size and scale that even a physical site visit renders difficult to comprehend.
The key focus of iSite is to provide an intelligent digital design and consultation tool. This incorporates the use of drone photography, 360° camerawork (think Google Street View for buildings), interactive, virtual consultation halls and project web sites that can pool together all of the information for effective file management and sharing. So whether you need to initiate an initial site survey appraisal, team site visit, pre-application meeting, public consultation event or committee presentation, iSite can help.
iSite wont be for everyone. We understand that. But if you are looking for cost-effective ways to progress with your proposals, it could be the answer.
Sites don’t start with, and aren’t defined by, planning policy. They’re defined by people. And people bring a melting pot of ideas and opinions.
Not everyone will necessarily share the view that a site needs developing, regenerating or renewal, especially in areas undergoing massive amounts of change or those where nothing has happened despite the will to see it happen.
They are sites that often mean more to people than an abstract red line on an OS plan, where physical and social barriers override site boundaries. Where people have a connection to their incidental bit of city they call home.
They have a past, they have a present and a future. Just like people.
Iceni Place delivers an approach that welcomes all of these views, fears, hopes and dreams into a collaborative process built on listening. It starts with people, asking “What does success look like to you?” and ends with a legacy of better places.
The Iceni Futures team was set up in response to the rapidly changing world and the acknowledgment that more than ever, we need to create futureproofed and sustainable development. The teams role is to assess, predict and influence change across the development industry. In practice that means exploring how places and people will function in the future, analysing existing barriers and providing strategic advice which aligns with clients goals and aspirations to ensure development is fit for the future.
The team doesn’t claim to be experts in every new discipline or product, but they understand the existing barriers and outdated development processes that persist across the industry and the importance of working innovatively and smarter to deliver client visions and change that actually works. It’s understood that each client will need tailored advice and the Futures team look to work collaboratively to provide advice which is tailored to a specific site, company strategy or product. Essentially, if you’re looking to plan for or capitalise on the future, Iceni Futures can be there to support you and drive that ambition.
Archaeology | Built Heritage & Townscape | DCOs | Design | Economics | Engagement | Impact Management | Landscape | Place | Planning | Transport Birmingham: 20 Colmore Circus Queensway, Birmingham, B4 6AT
Edinburgh : 14 -18 Hill Street, Edinburgh, EH2 3JZ
Glasgow : 201 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 2LW
London : Da Vinci House, 44 Saffron Hill, London, EC1N 8FH
Manchester : WeWork, Dalton Place, 29 John Dalton Street, Manchester, M2 6FW www.iceniprojects.com | iceni-projects | iceniprojects