Plymouth Regeneration Forum has been re-formed and revitalised after a hiatus of five years to help the city work together to face development challenges and opportunities.
The forum was set up in the early 2000s off the back of the Mackay Vision and in recognition of the role partners play in turning that vision for the city into a reality.
The forum has been revived by the Council and legal firm Womble Bond Dickinson as a way to catch up with key investors, landowners and other development stakeholders and to discuss planning issues affecting the city. It comprises architects, surveyors, developers, funders and planners active in and committed to Plymouth.
The intent is to facilitate better relationships between the Council and the development industry through genuine partnership and collaborative approaches to deliver service excellence within the city.
The last meeting was in 2019 and in the intervening years there has been a pandemic, lockdowns, Brexit, several prime ministers, a change of government as well as huge and enduring pressures on developers due to massive increases in construction costs and a skills shortage.
The forum is about a two-way exchange of ideas and information. It is a chance to discuss relevant planning issues affecting the city and to act as an opportunity to be kept informed of the work that the Council is doing as well as hearing from the development industry about issues that are relevant to the Council.
Councillor Mark Coker, Cabinet Member with responsibility for planning said:
“So much has happened in the last few years and there are so many bold, exciting and taunting challenges for councils and developers with the new Government setting out its intentions to speed up the delivery of much needed homes
“This can only be a good thing for the city. We are all committed to a better Plymouth and this will help strengthen relationships to provide a better business and investment climate in Plymouth.”
The knowledge and know-how of forum members will help the Council develop workable planning, regeneration, design, transport and net zero policies that will help deliver the much-needed increase in pace of development activity in Plymouth, but ensuring quality is also at the heart of progress.
At the first revived meeting, Paul Barnard, Service Director for Strategic Planning and Infrastructure at the Council, gave progress updates on public realm and transport projects, Plan for Homes 4 and planning application trends and performance.
Paul said:
“With the massive pressure for new homes, further planning reforms on the horizon and acute challenges in development capacity and viability, the need for collaboration has never been greater. I think is a great move for the city.”
Christopher Stephens, Managing Associate at Womble Bond Dickinson said:
“We are thrilled to have been able to support the Council in bringing the highly regarded Regeneration Forum back to the Plymouth business landscape.
“This provides the Council with an opportunity to present their vision of, and priorities for, the city and for the delegates there is an opportunity to stress test those principles and to talk about possible constraints to delivery. I felt we had a very good first session with excellent content delivery and robust discussion. We look forward to supporting Plymouth City Council in future and on a regular basis.”