Quod

On Friday Carly Vince, Senior Director at Quod discussed the importance of Data Centres and how they are essential to the modern UK economy, evolving planning systems, and the challenges and opportunities ahead on Concilio’s Better Places podcast with Nick Dines.   Within the discussion they explore how the planning system approaches Data Centres, what their designation as Critical National Infrastructure means, and the emerging proposals for AI Growth Zones. Carly uses her knowledge and experience within the sector to acknowledge how policy, the process and developers can help delivery come forward. The benefits and opportunities around Data Centres are highlighted with the transformational benefits that they and AI can bring within healthcare and education, as well as the benefits to local community economies around Data Centre locations. Carly uses her infrastructure and energy expertise to highlight that even though there are challenges around energy consumption there are also opportunities of collaboration with the energy sector to offer innovative solutions.   Other key insights Carly and Nick discuss are:   - The role of AI Growth Zones and their potential impact on future projects. - How planning policies are evolving to support digital infrastructure. - The Labour Party’s manifesto commitment to removing barriers for data centres. - The revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and its implications.   Please listen here: https://lnkd.in/e738YVCF

Race Equality Week 2025 This week, from 3–9 February, we’re marking Race Equality Week, a time dedicated to accelerating meaningful change in the workplace. The goal is to drive change that is not only relevant but also directly addresses the challenges faced by ethnically diverse employees, with a focus on action and impact. Six months ago, the Far-Right riots across the country left us all shaken. In light of that, this year’s Race Equality Week theme of ‘Every Action Counts’ is more important than ever. What actions have you started and continue to take in the wake of those events? Here are some suggestions: 🔸Be curious – learn, unlearn, read and ask empathetic questions. This curiosity should extend beyond surface-level awareness and encourage an ongoing commitment to learning and evolving your views on race and equality. 🔸Create an environment where people can ask questions without judgement. Making mistakes is normal. 🔸Regular engagement with colleagues on EDI matters – not just a topic addressed in isolated moments. 🔸Actively seeking feedback for continuous improvement. 🔸Regular self-reflection to address personal biases and privileges. This can help you become more intentional with your actions. What other actions would you add to this list? This week, we’re collaborating with several companies to deliver training sessions and events that explore how even small actions can make a meaningful impact in the workplace. For more resources on fostering inclusion, visit our website (linked in the first comment). Stay tuned for more Race Equality Week updates throughout the week. Race Equality Matters

Today marks our colleague and friend Tim Waring last day at Quod. Tim joined us in 2014 to set up our Leeds office alongside Pete Hall, and has been integral to the success and shaping Quod’s services in the North’ along with providing consultancy advice to a range of clients on projects across the country. Tim’s retirement comes after a 36-year career in planning. Over the years Tim has managed, directed, and advised on a vast and diverse range of projects on behalf of both national and regional clients. Successful outcomes for clients and their satisfaction have marked his career. “Tim has achieved great success across the BL portfolio, and Meadowhall in particular, for a decade or more adding huge value to our business. This extends on a personal level as well with honest, valued support and advice particularly at times when the conventional route needs a ‘creative’ approach. Tim will remain a friend, but suspect he’ll don his planning hat again and return for a cameo at some point in the near future!!” Paul Case, Development Director, British Land Tim’s success and accomplishments span far beyond planning applications and successful outcomes for clients; he has created a true legacy at Quod, being the founder of our Leeds office and developing the next generation of talent alongside our Leeds directors Richard Frudd, Emma Lancaster and James Beynon. He has played a significant role in the region building relationships between public and private sectors both through Quod and the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce where he has chaired their Property Group and Waterfront Group. Alongside this, Tim has chaired Quod’s charity group, raising money for the Yorkshire Children's Charity, Quod’s annual charity of the year, and The Brain Tumour Charity, amongst others. Tim’s professional achievements are wide and varied, having been involved over the years on a wide range of schemes through the Country, and most recently he has lead on a number of significant projects within the Leeds and wider region. “Quod has arguably been the highlight of my career, and I’m hugely thankful to the Leeds, and wider Quod team, as well as a host external consultants who have supported me throughout my career. Together, we’ve achieved some fantastic successes over the years. I strongly believe the team is well placed to continue on that successful path.” Tim Waring Whilst Tim will be hugely missed by colleagues, clients and industry friends alike, we know Tim will stay as a close friend to Quod and the team in Leeds look forward to continuing Tim’s legacy and working to create successful outcomes for clients, achieving better places and communities within and around the projects that we work for. Please read more on the Quod website using the link below. https://lnkd.in/e3XH2Rr5

Quod has worked on Gilston Park Estate since its inception. We have collaborated with Places for People and East Hertfordshire District Council to shape the project into something we are all truly proud of. This is a significant milestone for the government's new towns vision and boosting housing supply for the UK. Thank you to a tireless client team, consultant team and local authority team. This was a multi-disciplinary project at Quod involving many of teams and all of our specialisms. Services delivered include strategic site promotion; planning policy and engagement; strategic case and economic analysis; outline planning application coordination & submission; Environmental Impact Assessment coordination; and housing and community infrastructure advisory. Quod will now continue to assist with the rest of the development. The team was led by: Philip Murphy, Rachel Godfrey, Aisling Webb, Elin Fradgley, Alistair Walker, Tom Dobson, Andrew Hunt, Chris Wheaton, Ryan Wells and Sasha Gordon.

We are delighted to announce a number of promotions to start the new year. It has always been an important part of Quod’s philosophy to nurture talent and grow from within, which is even more important as an employee-owned business. These promotions are awarded in recognition of the outcomes these individuals deliver for our clients and their role in growing our business. In light of succession and the hard work of these individuals there have been seven promotions from Associate to Associate Director: Adam Cornish, Anjuli Schiele, Alexander MacGregor, Ewan Grunwald, Gregory Blaxland, Neil Wells and Rebecca Sanders. More information on these individuals can be read on our new story on the link below. Congratulations to the above individuals which strengthens Quod’s offer, in addition to these the following people have also been promoted. Congratulations to all and thank you for your contribution to Quod. Alexandra Higgin – Associate Becky Hartley – Associate Hannah Swainston – Associate Maddy Truman – Associate Alex Hamlet – Senior Planner Jane Drumm – Senior Planner James Newitt – Senior Consultant Matthew Rudge – Senior Consultant Eleanor Wright – Senior Consultant Eve Warwick – Planner Sophie Butler – Planner Johnathan Welton – Planner Sam Baggaley – Planner https://lnkd.in/eXiBa72p

#QuodWrapped. As we start 2025, we have taken a look back at Quod in 2024. There were so many highlights and achievements both as a company and as individuals on behalf of Quod, from our biggest permissions and submissions, to raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, and to leading the debate through our thought leadership. Our 2024 Quod Wrapped highlights a few of our key achievements last year (thanks to Spotify for the inspiration). Thank you to our amazing colleagues at Quod who make everything we do possible, and deliver the best for our clients and communities we work in. We look forward to working with you in 2025!

From everyone at Quod we want to wish our clients, friends, and colleagues a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are looking forward to working with you all and seeing what 2025 has in store.

Some of the Quod team are attending the Accessible Retail Annual Christmas lunch today, catching up with clients and industry friends alike. Quod has been a sponsor for 14 years running and the team look forward to the event each year. Accessible Retail, which Senior Director Tim Rainbird sits on the Board is: ‘One Voice for Out of Town Property – offering networking & educational opportunities for the out-of-town property sector.' #accessibleretail #sponsor #propertysector #development

A great charity who does amazing work throughout the Yorkshire region, which Quod have supported throughout the year, please help to support them this Christmas with there festive gift appeal. The post below and link has more details of how you can get involved. Yorkshire Children's Charity https://lnkd.in/e7fmxkUU

Another big one! Our 130,000 sqft, mixed-use repurposing of a redundant office building in Elephant & Castle received unanimous consent from London Borough Of Southwark last night - maintaining our 100% planning track-record. Our 283-bed Purpose-Built Student Accommodation-led (PBSA) scheme unlocks a site on the Walworth Road, that has laid derelict and largely empty for far too long, bringing forward a rich mix of uses that puts the area’s diverse communities at its heart. Demonstrating that student accommodation can meaningfully address and respond to the needs of local people. While also supporting students and other new residents to become active and productive community members. Our dramatic remodelling of the building will transform an unloved eyesore into a positive landmark on the high street – centred on community, food and nature. The ground plain will be given over to community – pretty much in its entirety: 🌳 A new community courtyard garden at the heart of the site provides green respite from the busy high street 🚶🏽♀️➡️ A new pedestrian route transforms its permeability, signposted with welcoming entrances lined in tactile glazed brick 🏬 New high street shops will drive footfall 👩🏽🍳 A new Community Kitchen, with local charity Pembroke House, will use the power of food to bridge existing communities and new residents, tackle social isolation, connect young and old, improve access to healthy, fairly-priced food and support emerging local food businesses. 🏡 And critically, we’re delivering 35% affordable housing on site – 23 new homes for Walworth, all of which will be for social-rent. Our plans prioritise the natural environment too. The all-electric scheme reuses the entire structure of the Walworth Road building. Air-source heat pumps and extensive rooftop PVs will significantly reduce energy demand. And nature is being reintroduced on a significant scale. 22 new trees and enough green and blue roofs to cover an Olympic swimming pool. We’ve got to this point through extensive input from the local community. What they’ve told us and the relationships we’ve built, have fed directly into our plans. And the scheme is all the better for it. Huge thanks to them all. And of course our incredible project team. Howells I Quod I Elliott Wood I Arup I Harris Bugg Studio I Gardiner & Theobald LLP I eb7 ltd I Citydesigner I Turner & Townsend alinea I Caneparo Associates I StudioFractal I Homes for Students #PBSA #Reuse #Repurpose #StudentAccommodation #ElephantAndCastle #Walworth #HighStreet #AffordableHomes #Community