Preston City Council’s planning department has been judged to provide “an exemplary approach to identifying, unlocking and kick-starting brownfield housing sites.”
AdvertisementThe City Living Strategy has won the Planning for Increased Housing Delivery Award and the overall Editor’s Choice Award at the national Planning Awards 2020, which took place on September 8 and 9.
The delivery of quality homes in inner Preston has started to take off in the last few years, but Preston City Council says there is an opportunity to significantly increase these numbers by providing the right solutions to unlock the sites.
City Living Preston provides the overarching framework for housing growth in the city centre and surrounding inner suburbs in response to previous challenges around city centre housing.
The strategy specifically seeks to attract interest from local, small and medium sized house builders, including both private developers and housing associations, linking to the council’s approach on maximising local spend through the Preston Model.
The latest job listings in your area can be found below
Councillor Peter Moss, Cabinet member for planning and regulation, said: “I’m delighted that Preston has been recognised at a national level for this fantastic work on City Living Preston.
“I am particularly pleased with the judges’ comments about the criteria for selecting winners included ‘real social and environmental benefits’, ‘real benefits for local people’ and an ‘exemplary approach to kick starting brownfield sites’.
Read more: Over £80,000 has been awarded to help reoffenders in Lancashire
“This award is testament to the terrific partnership work of both organisations and is the culmination of high quality work day in, day out to further our ambitions for the city”.
Chris Hayward, Director of Development & Housing at Preston City Council, said: “All of the actions taken by the council and Hive Land & Planning are having a major impact on increasing housing delivery within inner Preston, demonstrating a wide-ranging approach to development, supporting the housing market and delivering long-term benefits to local communities.”
Read more: Free Preston events inviting locals to re-think their neighbourhoods
Stuart Sage, Director Hive Land & Planning, added: “Supporting Preston City Council’s drive to find innovative ways to unlock brownfield land enables Hive Land & Planning to use its wide range of experience in problem-solving and developing effective public-private partnerships.
“We are honoured that this work has been recognised as being exemplary at a national level and we look forward to continuing to help deliver the decent affordable homes that Preston needs.”
Read more: Latest news from Blog Preston
What do you think about the planning award? Let us know in the comments below