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Preparing for the Self Build Revolution

admin — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 08:00:27 +0000

Foxley Tagg was central to the organisation of the first Self Build workshop aimed specifically at Local Planning Authority policy makers within the South West Region.

An audience of 40 professional local authority officers and Housing Association representatives attended this free seminar and workshop kindly hosted by Teighbridge District Council.

Following an introduction from the leader of the council, Jeremy Christophers and the Deputy Chief Executive, Phil Shears, the Chair of NaSBA, Ted Stevens outlined the events for the day, Central Government’s stance and the current and anticipated trends within the self build and custom build markets. Following Ted, Mario Wolf, the senior policy advisor to the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on Housing Supply and Markets gave a passionate speech on the Governments ambitions for the sector, recognising as they do, the great potential for self build not only as a developing sector in its own right but as a ‘touch paper’ for the broader housing construction industry.
With upwards of 10,000 new homes each year potentially being built by self builders the economic impact in local areas for struggling tradesmen and also via contributions from homebuilders, to local authorities cannot be underestimated.

This brings home (excuse the pun) the reason why LPA’s need to be persuaded and educated about self build, as to why it should be supported and why lateral, innovative thinking must be allowed to flourish. This is not the doomsday scenario that has been painted in some quarters as a consequence of the NPPF but a very real benefit from this Framework which for the first time puts self build as a stated objective within a legislative document.

This last point was taken up by Sally Tagg with her detailed look at the NPPF and how the Local Planning policy makers need to take on board the recommendations with a starting point of actually understanding the scale of the topic and how poorly prepared many Local authorities are to manage the scale and type of demand that may come from the new initiatives.

There is no doubt that there are some forward thinking authorities out there fully prepared and already actively promoting and facilitating self builders. There are hot spots around Cambridge and isolated but very different examples in Swindon and Shropshire which were presented as alternatives to consider and expand upon during the workshop sessions later in the day.

The event was a resounding success with Jeremy Christophers thanking all concerned for their hard work and strongly suggesting that other regions would be well served to go through such a thought provoking exercise.

The gauntlet has been thrown down, central government has decided to embrace it, the construction industry is beginning to believe in it, the customers are there so come on local authorities let’s see some real positive moves to support the self build initiative.

The National Self Build and Renovation Centre – Partner Day.

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:04:32 +0000

An interesting day at the NSBRC for Mark Tagg representing Foxley Tagg via our involvement with the National Self Build Association. The conference in part celebrating 5 years of the Centre but also to establish a networking opportunity for the partners and other guests. In both these areas the Centre was successful, a well organised event with interesting, relevant speakers gave us all food for thought.
The most interesting element from a Foxley Tagg perspective was the talk given by Tim Doherty highlighting new build market opportunities especially in the self-build or custom build arena. Tim emphasised what we have believed for some time I that there is a real opportunity for growth in this area if all the constituent parts necessary to pump prime the sector work together. There is no doubt that the traditional housing market is still feeling the pinch of the recession and that a kick start for growth is required. If figures are to be believed then there is a latent market out there measured in tens of thousands of people who would be prepared to self-build as a means onto the ladder or to enable movement within it.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) certainly see this and through its ‘Action plan to promote the growth of self build housing’ are adopting some positive steps to facilitate some of the major hurdles to the custom build market. These are availability of land through initiatives of the Homes and Communities Agency and availability of finance through revolving fund facilities.
This is very encouraging stuff and if enabling developers can then be identified who work together with self builders either as individuals or a groups then there is real potential here.
The next part of the challenge is closer to home with the role of the local planning authorities around the country being pivotal is this desire and enabling is to succeed.
This part of the jigsaw is to be addressed by NaSBA through its first workshop aimed at LPA’s, ‘Planning for the self build revolution’, to be reviewed shortly.

The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show – NEC Birmingham

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:28:27 +0000

The National Homebuilding & Renovating Show is the UK’s biggest, dedicated self-build & renovation event. This year it will be packed to the rafters with free expert advice, countless inspirational ideas and thousands of cutting edge and essential products – all to help you make the most of your home, your budget and your plans.

The Foxley Tagg Team will be available at the ‘Planning Clinic’ for individual 15 minute consultations. These can be booked on each of the days of the show at the concierge desk.

So whether you are about to embark on a project or are if you’ve applied for planning permission and your application has been refused, or if you are in the process of completing an application and want to discover tactics for success, you’ve found the right place!

In addition Foxley Tagg is delighted that their MD Sally Tagg, the Homebuilding & Renovating Planning Expert, will be present during the four days of the show presenting 2 different seminars each morning discussing different aspects of the planning process, talking about how to begin the process of preparing for your dream home, and how to make the planning system work for you.

Join us on the 29 March – 1 April 2012

Tickets

For more information and free tickets, visit www.homebuildingshow.co.uk/expertfreetickets 0844 581 1377. Tickets are normally £10 in advance or £15 on the door (children under 16 go free).

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club fails in their planning permission quest.

admin — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:59:29 +0000

As a Gloucestershire based consultancy with great sporting links and interests we were especially disappointed to hear the news that Gloucestershire’s plans for an enabled expansion to their Nevil Road ground had been turned down. We understand that this process has been on-going for some time and through many changes and despite support from a number of quarters has been turned down at planning committee.

With our history in County Cricket at senior management level within the consultancy we have a specific insight into how the sport needs the opportunity to develop its grounds and become competitive with other sporting facilities and indeed leisure activities. Modern day spectators have an expectation of their visits and to bring many of the grounds up to date significant development must be enabled. Cricket is particular is not a rich sport, yet does a huge amount in the community providing a healthy lifestyle to our schoolchildren in particular through its Cricket Development activities. If the grass roots are to succeed then the pinnacle must be strong and in the South West, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club must fulfil this need.

This story is I believe far from finished and we watch goings on with interest.

New recruit for Foxley Tagg Planning Limited

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:06:20 +0000

A new Year and some new faces for Foxley Tagg. After a very successful year in 2011 Foxley Tagg have recruited another qualified RTPI member in Emma Phillips who joins the company from Torbay Council. Emma brings a wealth of Local Authority experience gained from working on a number of high profile projects which provides unique insights into consultancy work.

Managing Director Sally Tagg said “I was delighted with the team’s performance during 2011 and I am determined to maintain that momentum during 2012 and see recruiting Emma as a step in that direction”.

Foxley Tagg reopens on the 3rd January

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 13:09:21 +0000

The offices for Foxley Tagg Planning will close on Friday 23rd December at 4.30pm and reopen in the New Year on Tuesday 3rd January. We hope that all our customers enjoy a very Merry Christmas and look forward to a properous New Year.

Foxley Tagg support African schools IT initiative.

admin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 09:19:08 +0000

Following an idea from its environmental planner Vicky Broucke, Foxley Tagg is delighted to help a locally based Charity, IT Schools Africa, to help transform IT education in Africa. By donating computers and keyboards to the scheme Foxley Tagg will play a small part in helping to improve the prospects of hundreds of thousands of children by equipping them with IT skills and enhance the teaching of other subjects by computer aided learning.

Vicky said ‘After spending some time in Uganda as part of a similar educational project I have a strong appreciation for the work undertaken by ITSA and the positive contribution it makes to the lives of individuals in Africa. I am pleased that Foxley Tagg could make a small contribution to this worthy cause.’

The process does not end there, these computers will typically have a useful life five years and at the end of this period the charity will collect the computers and send them to a facility in South Africa for complete recycling.

ITSA has to date distributed over 20,000 computers to over 1,000 schools in Africa, including schools in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Zanzibar and supported this effort with training over 500 African teachers in IT while establishing new programmes in Egypt, Tanzania and Madagascar.

Simon Richardson from IT Schools Africa commented “IT Schools Africa is very grateful for the donation of computer equipment from FT Planning and your support for the work of our Charity. By donating your old computers and monitors you are helping to improve the education of many thousands of children in some of the poorest countries on the African continent”.

If you are interested in supporting the scheme please contact IT schools on 01242 228800 or via email to info@itschoolsafrica.org.

SAPCA Facility Construction Event

admin — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:39:07 +0000

Useful day yesterday at the home of sporting controversy, Twickenham, visiting the Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) Sports Facility Construction Event. Nice venue, being sustainable I thought I would walk the 15 minutes journey from tube to stadium only to find that 15 minutes must have been running and not walking!

As well as a comprehensive array of exhibitors covering everything from non-turf pitches, floodlights to sports hall construction there were a number of seminars. The one of particular interest from a planning point of view was that delivered by the Deputy CEO of Fields in Trust, Don Earley, which covered their response to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) consultation period. Concerns were eloquently raised over the perceived and actual shortcomings in the NPPF compared to the predecessor PPG 17 and how this could leave sports fields in a more vulnerable position.

This was my first experience of SAPCA and it was impressive although disappointing that more people did not attend as I know from my own experience in professional sport and event management how much work is involved. There is no doubt that the sports agenda continues to gather momentum politically as health and welfare issues continue to dominate government thinking and it is nice to think that we at Foxley Tagg Planning are technically well equipped and hugely experienced in this arena.

Mark Tagg

NaSBA AGM

admin — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 11:13:45 +0000

On Saturday 26th of November 2011, Foxley Tagg’s Managing Director Sally Tagg attended the Annual General Meeting of the National Self Build Association (NaSBA) in Swindon. NaSBA was formed in October 2008 to promote self-build and become the voice of the self-build sector in which Britain lags behind the rest of Europe.
Sally has become increasingly involved in planning issues related to the self-build sector; in addition this is reflected in her long term association with the Homebuilding and Renovating magazine since March 2007. At NaSBA’s AGM she was successfully accepted onto the NaSBA Executive Committee.
Sally has been working with the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) over recent months following a call from Ministers in January 2011 which invited representatives from the self-build “industry” to form a working group. This working group in turn called upon the industry through four working sub groups to identify the four main challenges that they face. The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Grant Shapps as would be expected, is taking a keen interest in the report of the Self Build Government-Industry Working Group or in his words the “charter for the self-build revolution”.
The four main challenges have been identified as follows;
Availability of Land, availability of finance, impact of regulation and the disparate nature of the industry.
Sally has from the start of this year specifically been involved in the Group looking at Regulation and red tape through two streams, planning issues and non-planning issues. Along with the other sub groups, these findings were collated to create the Action Plan document entitled “An Action Plan to promote the growth of self-building housing”.
Following its publication in July this year, a Self-Build Implementation Group was formed from a select number of members of the four sub working parties to develop and carry forward the Action Plan. Sally was very committed to the work of the industry group and was delighted to have been selected to continue with the implementation Group and the programme of objectives identified in the Action Plan, working with sector professionals, local and central government and the industry as a whole.
A review of the Action plan key elements will be posted shortly.

Harrogate Homebuilding & Renovating Show

admin — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:14:35 +0000

On the 4th to the 6th November Sally Tagg once again took up her position as the resident Planning Expert for the Homebuilding and Renovating Show in Harrogate. The event was held at Harrogate International Centre in North Yorkshire, as per previous years. Once again this was a popular event, bursting with over 250 exhibitors and thousands of enthusiastic attendees.

The event offered visitors an extensive range of products and services to help them to deliver their dream home. In addition, experts from Britain’s leading self-build magazine ‘Homebuilding & Renovating’ were on hand to provide free masterclasses and seminars to attendees on the key subject areas essential to any self-build or significant home improvement project.

Sally provided a daily Seminar entitled ‘Planning Permission: A Beginner’s Guide’ in which she guided the show attendees through an introduction to the planning system, the different stages of the planning process and the types of applications that would be relevant to home-builders and home-improvers. This included tips for avoiding common pitfalls and hits on how to successfully achieve planning permission. The final section of the seminar also covered appeals, including the different types, timeframes and what will be required. This seminar is the perfect start for anyone new to the planning system who is looking to embark on the preparation of an application!

Together with a Masterclass on ‘Permitted Development’, in which she took attendees through the various opportunities for extending and improving their homes without the need for planning permission. This class caters for all levels of experience, providing an understanding of what you can and cannot achieve.
This as usual is a very popular session, with many people later purchasing the guide book prepared by Foxley Tagg Planning for 2011 entitled ‘Permitted Development: A guide to extending your property’. To purchase a copy follow this link.

Ask the Experts:
When not on the stage presenting the seminars and masterclasses, Sally was available on the ‘Ask the Experts’ stand for 1-2-1 sessions with individuals, where she could provide detailed advice on specific questions and proposed schemes. This impartial advice was offered free of charge, with Sally providing knowledge and expertise on a range of areas.

These include: Site Assessment, Scheme Feasibility Assessment, the Pre-application Process, Planning Permission, Planning Appeals, Permitted Development Rights, Listed Buildings and Conservation Area Consents.

Popular questions included:
• We have a site in the countryside and would like to build a house on it, where do we start?
• Can I build this using Permitted Development Rights?
• We recently had a planning application rejected , should we appeal the decision?

Future Shows:
The next annual Harrogate Homebuilding and Renovating Show is to be held on the 2nd to the 4th November 2012; however if you live elsewhere in the country, you may be interested in the other timetabled shows:

29th March to 1st April 2012 – National Show, The NEC, Birmingham
30th June to 1st July 2012 – Surrey, Sandown Park, Esher

Tickets:
If you currently subscribe to the Homebuilding & Renovating Magazine you are eligible for two free tickets to all of these events! If you do not subscribe to the magazine and wish to purchase tickets in advance, you can also benefit from a reduced price. Visit the following website link http://somerset.homebuildingshow.co.uk/en/Show-Tickets.aspx and save £3 per ticket. Alternatively, tickets are available on the door for £8.

FTP competition………………… win FREE tickets!