Acorn Property Group

The media landscape is currently very busy with planning announcements. We caught up with Duncan Powell our Group Planning Director, here's his thoughts on the latest news: "It must be said that the Government is largely delivering on what they promised—and what many of us hoped for: • Revised, pro-development National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). ✅ • Ideas on how to address the challenges posed by obstructive planning committees. ✅ • An imminent Planning and Infrastructure Bill. ✅ • Upcoming consultation on National Development Management Policies, which will take precedence over local policies where there is conflict. ✅ • A series of high-profile decisions by the Government that send a clear pro-development message to critics and NIMBYs alike. ✅ However, on the ground, our battered and bruised SME sector has yet to see any tangible benefits. We continue to face resistant Local Planning Authorities (LPAs), unnecessarily adversarial Councillors and Planning Committees, slow statutory consultees, escalating planning costs, and case officers hindered by local politics. That said, as Paul Fong recently observed on LinkedIn, the housing crisis and Government’s firm stance on planning is starting to have an impact. At Acorn we feel progress is being made, and we may finally begin to help tackle at least a portion of the 1.5 million homes needed". https://lnkd.in/eRv-Etey

Exciting News: A Landmark Acquisition in Clifton! We’re thrilled to announce that our Bristol region has exchanged on a truly iconic site – the former Bristol Zoo Gardens in Clifton! This is a significant milestone and the result of a complex process that has required immense dedication and collaboration. A huge thank you to everyone involved so far, including Simon Gait and Nathan Barker from our land team, our solicitors Brook Martin, Ben Taylor and Angharad Gravell from Savills who marketed the site and represented Bristol Zoological Society in contract negotiations, Gian Floris from Gould & Swayne and Richard Saunders from funders Land Rich Select Partnerships whose bespoke model provides tailored funding solutions and connects South West developers with high-net-worth investors. Located just minutes from Clifton Suspension Bridge and The Downs, this historic site will be transformed into a thoughtfully designed new community. Set to provide a mix of open market and affordable 1 to 5-bedroom homes, with many of the existing buildings carefully restored. Most excitingly, for the first time in its 186-year history, the stunning historic gardens will be open to the public - free of charge! Beyond delivering new homes, this project will support Bristol Zoological Society’s mission of ‘Saving Wildlife Together’, funding the development of a new conservation zoo at Bristol Zoo Project. The much-loved entrance building will also be repurposed as the Clifton Conservation Hub, offering a café, exhibition space, educational facilities, and a home for the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project. The sale has been agreed with Planning Permission, and as we progress, the Society continues to respond to a judicial review of Bristol City Council’s decision. We anticipate a resolution by May 2025. This is a truly special project, and we look forward to sharing more updates as we bring this historic site into a new era. Stay tuned! #Bristol #Clifton #Regeneration #LandmarkDevelopment #BristolZooGardens #Sustainability #Conservation

Our coastal development in North Devon, Lee Bay, is starting to take shape. Here's a little update:

Working with Lambert Smith Hampton we are pleased to share that Acorn has formally submitted a full planning application for the regeneration of Emery Gate Shopping Centre in Chippenham. Subject to approval, Chippenham Riverside will transform the shopping centre into a modern, vibrant retail and leisure destination designed to enhance the town centre. The proposals include 225 energy efficient homes and 40,000sqft of employment driven commercial space, including a blend of retail, leisure, health, food and beverage. The project will sensitively integrate with Island Park and create new and improved access routes from the High Street to the River Avon, whilst protecting this valued greenspace. There will be improved pedestrian connections, and the area will be enhanced through landscaping and attractive public realm to create a relaxing and pleasant place to spend time. The ambitious scheme will rejuvenate the town centre’s commercial and leisure offering - breathing new life into the heart of Chippenham and making it a destination in its own right. This project builds on Acorn's strong commercial and regeneration portfolio which we are seeking to expand. Please send opportunities to commercial@acornpg.org Image credit: HNW Architects Find out more: https://lnkd.in/ezZbTjna #emerygate #chippenham #planningsubmission #realestate #commercial

Join us tomorrow from 10 am to 1 pm for an Open House at our Manor Court development in Greet, nestled in the heart of the Cotswolds. This is a wonderful opportunity to explore our Show Home and the remaining four detached 4- and 5-bedroom houses. No booking is required. For more information, please contact us or visit our website. Katy Reynolds, Knight Frank #cotswolds #newhomes #manorcourt #countryside #openhouse

Celebrating success at Acorn! 🎉 Chris Catley has been promoted to Regional Pre-Construction Manager at our Bristol office! Chris has been an integral part of the team, consistently demonstrating exceptional dedication and expertise. This well-deserved promotion reflects his hard work and commitment to excellence. Please join us in congratulating Chris on this exciting new chapter of his career! 👏 #TeamAcorn #CareerMilestone #CelebratingSuccess

Great insights from the recent 'Costing the Earth?' roundtable hosted by Show House, where Acorn Property Group’s Luke Burwood joined leading experts to discuss the future of sustainable housebuilding. 

Here at Gardiners, we have been making great progress on a groundworks project for Acorn Property Group in Wrington, showcasing our commitment to precision and efficiency. One month in, we’ve already achieved key milestones: 🚜 Large-scale earthworks expertly handled with the support of Bristol and Avon Group and Worcester Hire Centre. 💧 Deep drainage installation, ensuring robust and reliable infrastructure. 📦 Efficient use of drag boxes from GAP Hire to keep the project running smoothly. With our dedication to quality, collaboration, and innovation, we are the contractor you can trust to deliver outstanding results on every project. Find out more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eg6dT-Bh #gardiners #groundworksexperts #trustedcontractor #propertydevelopment #propertymanagement

Forever a hot topic, the subject of planning is making headlines again. In response to the updated National Planning Policy Framework, issued late last year, and the findings of the MHCLG Local Authority Planning Capacity and Skills survey published last week, we spoke with Duncan Powell, our Group Planning Director, to get his perspective on this complex issue. "We will need far more planners if we are to come anywhere near the target of 1.5 million homes. Stronger support is essential to educate and recruit planners into the public sector, but this remains a significant challenge, particularly when politically motivated NIMBY committees undermine planners’ expertise and dismiss their professional judgment. The Government’s recent Planning Reform Paper on Planning Committees is a positive step forward, but it doesn’t go far enough. Until rogue committee members prioritise planning merits over the loud voices of a vocal minority, our chances of meeting housing targets will remain slim. Moreover, until this changes, planners will increasingly be reluctant to join the public sector.” What are your thoughts on the current state of planning and its impact on housing targets? We’d like to hear your perspective, join the discussion below. 💬👇 #PlanningPolicy #HousingDevelopment #NPPF #PlanningReform