Silverstone Communications

📣 Yesterday, some of the Silverstone Communications Team attended the #BrightonSummit, run by Brighton Chamber, based on the theme “24/7”. The whole day centred around the idea of making space for nature, turning off from devices and work-life balance. It was a great opportunity to connect with other businesses in Brighton and a reminder to take a moment to get out into nature and slow down.    We each chose our own workshops and activities throughout the day, which included speaker sessions on AI, neurodivergence and diversity. The day was separated by keynote speakers, all with the theme of 24/7. 📅   Bill Collison, the founder of Bill's Restaurants, spoke about his love of growing vegetables, and the importance of taking time to work on what you love, but also enjoying nature. 🥕 Alison Lapper MBE, artist and presenter, spoke about her life, struggles with growing up in a care home for disabled children and how she was never given full support in the way she needed it. Her primary message was to be kind. 🙂 The final speaker was Dr Mya-Rose Craig, whose birdwatching passion led her to set up her charity Black2Nature, which encouraged children of ethnic minorities to get into nature. 🦅   The importance of nature was not understated throughout the day and Dr Mya-Rose highlighted that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted in the world. When questioned on how housebuilding plays into this, she argued for thoughtful construction, and commended efforts to rewild in areas that lack biodiversity. 🌲   The day reminded all of us at Silverstone to slow down, enjoy nature and detox from our digital devices every so often. Thank you to Brighton Chamber for a great reminder.  🎉 Brighton Chamber Sandra Murphy Business Coach and Mentor Ed Wray Thomas Bushby Simon Gale Richard Freeman Kate Tyrer Kerry Lockwood Lesley Quaeck Kyriakos Baxevanis

Last week, we hosted another thought-provoking Silverstone Speaks event, this time delving into the complex world of housing with a panel discussion aptly titled "Politics, Planning and Pinot." The event, sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction, brought together industry leaders to tackle the pressing issues facing the sector.     The Housing Conundrum  The government's ambitious target of 1.5 million homes in five years set the stage for a lively debate. While the panel appreciated the prioritisation of housing, they didn't shy away from addressing the elephant in the room: funding.    It's clear that without proper financial backing, these targets remain a pipe dream. Steve Sanham hit the nail on the head when he emphasised that it's not the government building these homes, but primarily private housebuilding companies. This raises the crucial question: “How can we better support and incentivise the private sector to meet these ambitious goals?” Catherine Ryder brought a sobering perspective to the table, reminding us that behind the statistics are real people, including 150,000 children in temporary accommodation. It's time we shift the narrative from mere numbers to the tangible social benefits of housing.     Amplifying Unheard Voices  One of the most intriguing suggestions came from Tristan W Robinson. He proposed notifying everyone on council housing waiting lists about new planning applications. This bold move could potentially balance the scales against the often-louder NIMBY voices. Rethinking Planning Committees  The discussion highlighted a glaring issue in our current system: the lack of standardised training for planning committee members. This gap leaves decisions vulnerable to the loudest voices rather than focusing on material planning conditions. As industry leaders, we must push for reform in this area. The Collaboration Imperative  If there's one takeaway from the event, it's this: collaboration is not just beneficial; it's essential. The synergy between local authorities, housing associations, and private developers holds the key to unlocking housing at an unprecedented pace. Challenging the Status Quo  As a leading political and engagement consultancy, Silverstone Communications challenges the industry to: Moving Forward  The housing crisis demands creative solutions and open dialogue. As Richard Freeman aptly put it, "Let's be creative about how we do and speak about housing”.    At Silverstone Communications, we're committed to fostering these crucial conversations and driving meaningful change in the housing sector. Once again we proved that when industry leaders come together, we can challenge the status quo and pave the way for innovative solutions.     As we continue to navigate the complex landscape of housing development, Silverstone Communications remains at the forefront, ready to tackle the challenges ahead with expertise and insight.    Let’s be creative and proactive in shaping our communities! 

What do I know about how to build a house? 🏚️ Not much. But I do know how critical housing is to almost every conversation I have about what makes a thriving town or city in the 21st century. I had fun participating in Silverstone Speaks last night - an event organised by Silverstone Communications and Morgan Sindall Group plc to bring together key voices to discuss some of the most pressing issues in politics, planning, and housing. I was the wildcard local economics/placemaking voice on a distinguished panel of housing and planning experts - Steve Sanham, Founding Director of Common Projects, Simon Fanshawe OBE from Hexagon Housing Association in the chair, Catherine Ryder, CEO of PlaceShapers and Tristan W Robinson, from Thakeham. At the heart of our discussions were the escalating housing challenges nationally - and in Sussex. The region’s annual housing targets have risen by 5%, but actual housebuilding rates have fallen far short - with big potential developments being mothballed despite the pressing need. Are the current targets realistic? And if not, how do we address the gap between policy ambition and actual delivery? We also looked at whether national and local governments are prioritising housing enough. And - most critically to me - how do we make housing truly affordable, and high quality and conscious of its context - particularly in high-demand areas like the South East. Why are so many people so ill-informed about how planning decisions are made, and who is making them? We explored ideas around prioritising brownfield sites for development and how local communities must come to terms with increased mass and density - but how we have better, more grown-up conversations about this. Good to be part of the debate. Thanks to Steve Neocleous and Geri Silverstone for inviting me.

A big thankyou to Geri Silverstone, Steve Neocleous and all the team at Silverstone Communications for an excellent evening of Politics, Planning and Pinot. An inciteful panel hosted by Simon Fanshawe and made up of Steve Sanham, Tristan W Robinson, Richard Freeman and Catherine Ryder, with some thought provoking discussions that left us all with plenty to consider.

📣 Yesterday evening, we held our second Silverstone Speaks event, all about 'Politics, Planning and Pinot', sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction 📣 We would love to say a massive thank you to everyone that came and especially to our wonderful host Simon Fanshawe and our amazing panel Steve Sanham, Catherine Ryder, Tristan W Robinson and Richard Freeman 👏 We also want to give a huge thank you to our sponsor Morgan Sindall Construction who helped make this event possible! 🙌 Thank you to Ridgeview Wine Estate for supplying the wine, and Kerry Lockwood and Lesley Quaeck at Plus X Innovation for making the event run smoothly 🥂 Thank you to all of our guests, we hope you had fun and found the discussion insightful! 🙏 Here is the first upload of pictures from yesterday, keep an eye out for more and see if you can spot yourself 👀 Rebecca Allinson Cath Prenton Chris Middleton Craig Silver Dominic Arnold Doug Taylor-Johnson Gareth Giles FRTPI George Stow Guy Hannell Joseph Pearson MRTPI Joseph Robinson-Miller Marie Donnarumma Molly McLean MRTPI Oliver McKay Paul French Paul Joyce MRTPI Sam Sykes MRTPI Sandra Murphy Business Coach and Mentor Steve Sear MCIOB Victoria Ramsden Geri Silverstone Steve Neocleous Dani Snell Elyssa Fanning

📣 Here is the Brighton Bulletin September Issue! ❕We have included what Silverstone Communications have been up to this month and some of our top stories as well. If you have any questions about the stories included in the Brighton Bulletin, or want to find out more, get in touch with us. #brightonbulletin #politicalengagement

City Council Pledges Action Following Damning Regulatory Report Resolving the most significant issues with social housing in Brighton & Hove by the end of the year has become a top priority for the City Council. Cllr Gill Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing & New Homes, at a cabinet meeting on 26th September 2024 discussed the critical report from the Regulator for Social Housing, which highlighted issues of electrical safety, fire safety and overdue repairs.  💡3,600 homes didn’t have an electrical condition report   🚰 500 homes in need of water safety repairs   🛠️ 8,000 homes in need of low-priority repairs   🏘️ 12,500 backlog of homes in need of attention and repairs Cllr Williams admitted there had been serious issues with the management of social housing by the council. She acknowledged years of underinvestment had led to a significant backlog, and she stated that the council was determined to fix the problem.  The council has promised to invest £15 million from the Housing Revenue Account to tackle the issues with their social housing stock and aims to meet new regulatory standards that were introduced after the Grenfell tragedy. 🔨 2,500 to 3,000 repairs a month are being done by the council   💷 £15 million will be invested in social housing stock If you need any support with understanding how the backlog and investment in social housing can impact your current or future projects, or how you can get involved in developing social housing, please get in touch.  

🍎 🍯 Shana Tova! to all our friends wishing you joy, health, and prosperity for you and your loved ones.

📣 Here is another 'What Silverstone Communications have been up to this week'! This week: ▪️Steve Neocleous attended the Gatwick Diamond Business event at Crawley College ▪️Geri Silverstone attended the ActionCOACH UK Growth Club ▪️Steve Neocleous went to the Barrow Club at The Grand, Brighton 👀 Keep an eye out every Friday for our weekly round-up. Rob Andrew Simon Bland Victoria Ramsden Andy Parsons Katie Price Katie Jarvis Hayley Woollard

📣 The Labour Party arrived in Liverpool for their annual conference, set against a backdrop of criticism. The government faced scrutiny over cutting the Winter Fuel Allowance and growing discontent over PM Sir Keir Starmer and Deputy PM Angela Rayner accepting various luxury freebies. Adding to the tension, there was a mounting call for the government to shed its grim outlook and offer hope for the country. Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, was the first senior figure to address the conference on Sunday. In her speech, she committed to “building homes fit for the future.” Rayner announced plans to consult on a new “decent homes standard” and vowed to introduce new legislation requiring landlords to address disrepair within legally binding timeframes. She also highlighted a new planning framework aimed at unlocking affordable housing and delivering the largest expansion of social and affordable homes in a generation. Rayner ended her speech on a strong note, reaffirming her belief that “local leadership is the foundation of strong communities,” and emphasising her decision to place local government at the heart of her department’s mission. On Monday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised that “Britain’s best days lie ahead.” She vowed to lead a “war on Tory waste” with the appointment of a Covid corruption commissioner, tasked with recovering £674m from disputed COVID-19 contracts. Reeves reaffirmed her commitment to economic growth and investment, stating that there would be no increases to income tax, NI or VAT and that austerity was off the table. Prime Minister Keir Starmer took to the lectern amidst warm applause, despite early concerns about waning popularity. However, instead of expected optimism, Starmer delivered a speech grounded in realism. There was no flood of new policies; instead, the focus was on the tough choices ahead. Starmer warned of necessary trade-offs; he noted that achieving justice would require communities to accept prisons being built nearby, while cheaper electricity for the nation would demand the construction of overground pylons. These, he explained, are the kinds of difficult decisions his government would not shy away from. In summary, the Labour Party conference showcased a government keen to level with the public. They are positioning themselves as unafraid of making the hard decisions required to address the nation’s challenges. In terms of housing, this means that the government want to accelerate housebuilding, prioritise affordable and social housing, and move from consultation on the NPPF to action on reforming the planning system. The government need to ensure that housing remains a priority, not just for Rayner and her department, but for the whole country, and that these promises don’t get lost in further discussion, but instead translate into tangible action. If you need any help in understanding how these discussions impact your current or future projects, please get in touch.