Gareth Young, P.E.’s Post

With the deadline for #NPPF consultation responses fast approaching, I thought it was time to share my personal views on the big question of Benchmark Land Values and their impact on #viability and #affordable housing. You can access the blog here... https://lnkd.in/eEX--FD3

ALMOST HERE! #Homebuilders: ARCXIS invites you to learn more about HUD's new minimum requirements for #energyefficiency at this FREE webinar, conducted by our own expert and Sr. VP, Thomas C..   ABOUT THIS WEBINAR: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the adoption of the updated Minimum Energy Standards for new single and multifamily homes. All HUD- and USDA- financed new single-family construction housing must meet or exceed 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and HUD-financed multifamily must meet or exceed 2021 IECC or ASHRAE 90.1-2019.   WHAT YOU WILL LEARN:  - Understand the key revisions and updates in HUD’s latest energy standards.  - Review timelines and compliance paths  - Learn best practices for integrating energy-efficient strategies  - Align FHA/HUD requirements with Tax Credits to offset estimated construction cost increases   Register here today! https://lnkd.in/gfjK7AJn

COMING SOON! #Homebuilders: ARCXIS invites you to learn more about HUD's new minimum requirements for #energyefficiency at this FREE webinar, conducted by our own expert and Sr. VP, Thomas C.. ABOUT THIS WEBINAR: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the adoption of the updated Minimum Energy Standards for new single and multifamily homes. All HUD- and USDA- financed new single-family construction housing must meet or exceed 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and HUD-financed multifamily must meet or exceed 2021 IECC or ASHRAE 90.1-2019. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN: - Understand the key revisions and updates in HUD’s latest energy standards. - Review timelines and compliance paths - Learn best practices for integrating energy-efficient strategies - Align FHA/HUD requirements with Tax Credits to offset estimated construction cost increases Register here today! https://lnkd.in/gfjK7AJn

One of the headline changes proposed in the Government's consultation on revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is to Green Belt policy. In this Insight Giles Pink and I take a detailed look at what these changes might mean for land values, development viability and CPO compensation. https://lnkd.in/eKXYNca6

"Navigating the Draft NPPF: Your Guide to Key Planning Changes" We're excited to announce a LinkedIn series that will unpack the recent draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that was published for consultation this week, along with the accompanying Ministerial Statement. As town planning consultants, we understand the significance of these potential changes and the impact they could have on your projects and local communities. We'll summarise the most crucial aspects of the draft NPPF update, providing clear, concise information and expert insights. Our series will cover the proposed changes on the following topics: 📍 Housing Delivery and Local Plan Making 📍 Green Belt Considerations 📍 Renewable Energy Developments 📍 Design Standards 📍 The Return of Regional Planning 📍 Key Points from the Ministerial Statement, including: 🔹 New Towns and Urban Extensions 🔹 Application Fee Changes 🔹 Affordable Housing Initiatives 🔹 Planning Committee Reforms Whether you're a developer, property owner, or are simply interested in the future of planning in England, this series will offer valuable information to help you prepare for these potential changes. We'll be posting regularly, so be sure to follow our page and join the conversation. We welcome your questions and thoughts as we explore these important proposed updates together. Stay tuned for our first post on Housing Delivery and Local Plan Making, coming next week! #PlanningPolicy #NPPF #EnglishPlanning #TownPlanning #PlanningUpdates

Last November, when the Planning and Development Bill 2023 was published, we shared a roadmap outlining its journey towards enactment. Eight months later, here’s an update: the bill is now at step 8 of 11. It has been amended in the Dáil Éireann committee stage and will next be discussed in the Seanad Éireann committee stage, where further changes may occur. The new Planning and Development Bill aims to streamline the planning process, enhance sustainable development, and improve housing delivery. ▶ To access the full text of the Bill, and read all the amendments and observations made so far visit: https://lnkd.in/e42YJSuC #urbanplanning #planning #3DDB

Masterplan consent areas and housing - not necessarily a plan-led approach?

Amaranth Township had a very constructive delegation with Rob Flack, Associate Minister of Housing. We proposed that the Provincial initiatives to address the housing shortage are missing the mark when it comes to rural municipalities. Many municipalities are very willing to look at intensification on existing zoned lands rather than conversion of additional agricultural lands that will only be able to accommodate large houses on estate lots. We proposed that a major hurdle for municipalities is the inability to enter into a Municipal Responsibility Agreement which would allow for developer funded and developer led servicing solutions that can lead to increased density. Amaranth, for example, cannot in good conscience enter into an agreement that could potentially result in the taxpayers having to own and operate a wastewater facility that could cost tens of millions of dollars when we have an annual budget that is a fraction of that amount, regardless of how minute the associated risk is. The Province, on the other hand, not only has the ability to assume that risk, they have other tools at their disposal through enforcement at the Ministry level to ensure that privately owned facilities are being operated according to the same best management practices as municipally owned facilities. The Province already has a guideline in place through the current provincial guideline F15: Financial Assurance Guideline, which has traditionally been used on an interim basis until an MRA can be finalized, which can be expanded to allow for the use on a full time basis. This guideline spells out the roles and responsibilities of the developer and eventual owner of the facility as well as the requirements for a surety which will mitigate the risk to the Province. This small change can be implemented almost immediately and, the best part, at no direct cost to the municipality or the Province. I had a brief follow up chat with Andrea Khanjin, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks as this would need to be a coordinated effort between MMAH, MECP and Ministry of Finance to assess and value the future risk implications to the Province. I am hoping we can build on these conversations in the coming months to see some real progress in rural Ontario!

An interesting debate here following Hana Loftus post re some slightly shifting sands on viability assessments within the new planning reform proposals. I’m particularly interested in the definition of ‘benchmark land value’. Assuming that a residual land value model is being used, the process of making assumptions around the cost side of the calculation - ie a regional build cost rate with a reasonable allowance for abnormals and fees etc - is fairly straightforward. However, the value side of the equation is much more difficult to define as it assumes that everyone has a consistent idea of how much value each unit of any development would generate - including the affordable units. Which of course they don’t. Which is why I think there is a pressing need for a national ‘clearing house’ for affordable housing - ie a government guarantee of a fixed minimum price to all developers for compliant affordable housing units (let’s say it is the regional build rate referred to above plus a very small margin). Government can then allocate them on to local affordable housing providers at a suitably discounted rate, replacing the current grant system. This would reduce the potential for debate about the impact of affordable housing requirements on viability and create a much stronger link between land value and ‘profitability’. More importantly perhaps, it could also create a reason for smaller developers to deliver more affordable housing on low value land. #planningreform #nppf #viability #affordable #housing #planning #greybelt

Here's my take after reviewing the proposed changes to the NPPF by the new Labour government. As the consultation deadline approaches, I’ve been sharing my feedback. In this post, I’m responding to question 23 on the definition of Grey Belt—an area that’s generating a lot of discussion at the moment. I’m curious to hear from fellow property developers and industry professionals. What are your thoughts on this issue? #NPPF #GreyBelt #PropertyDevelopment #PlanningPolicy #RealEstate #Sustainability #AffordableHousing #PropertyInvesting