South Carolina Department of Commerce’s Post

Clarios, leading the way in advanced battery solutions, announced expanding operations in Oconee County. According to the SC Dept. of Commerce, this $16 million investment will create 12 new jobs with the 9,000-square-foot #expansion. The Oconee facility produces component parts for Absorbent Glass Mat #batteries used in new #automotivetechnology - including hybrid and #EV. Yet another example of #manufacturing growth in the south.

On the one hand, New Towns are a marvel, but on the other, we simply must re-invest in our existing towns and infrastructure. It makes so much more economic sense to retrofit and refurbish existing buildings and high streets than it does to carve new towns out of fields (brown, grey, or green doesn't matter). The embodied carbon sitting in derelict buildings is a ticking time bomb...we need to bring those buildings back to life now, before they are so delapidated there is no choice but to knock them down. Every person reading this post will immediately know of an abandoned or under-used building near them that could, with a bit of imagination, be brought back into use. Where is the #PresumptionOfRetrofit and #DontWasteBuildings ethos? I want to envision better spaces and to revitalise our communities, rather than ignoring them and moving on to the next new shiny thing. Let's #RetrofitOneMillionHomes and then maybe we move on to new builds!

#MHCLG and #HomesEngland have worked hand in hand since the election to develop the key concepts, outline the risks, the opportunities and the potential routes forward to help advise the Minister and Government on the next generation of #NewTowns. It's amazing how much expertise sits in both organisations which has helped to underpin the journey so far. This isn't any flight of fancy - this is an amazing future and real delivery on a scale we have not seen for a generation. I'm so glad to see this finally launch in #Stevenage, and Sir Michael Lyons and Dame Kate Barker will be brilliant in leading this. Whilst there were many hands helping bring it to this point, Julia Krause and John Whetstone MRICS have played a critical role and been amazing. Biased, I know, given they are on my team! #HomesEngland have played a critical role in the current generation of large scale delivery, from #HarlowandGilston to #MeridianWater and beyond. Now we'll be bringing our unmatched expertise in funding, infrastructure, delivery and placemaking to support this transformational programme. Personally, living in a town that has over 8,000 homes underway that will double it's size, and minutes from Urban&Civic's Tempsford scheme, this is both incredibly exciting and reassuring. It's the real change we have been asking for - from sporadic development often delivered through Appeal decision, to thought out, connected, planned settlements our kids will be proud to live in. I urge everyone to read the press release and forthcoming documents. Critical is the first bullet point about the work plan. It confirms over the next 12 months the Taskforce will be "Meeting with new and existing communities to hear first-hand about the design of desirable developments". That's where the work starts and tells you how much this isn't about numbers but about you, and me, and the people we care about. Let's make this brilliant. #WeAreHomesEngland #NewTowns #delivery #regeneration #development #planning #housing

Montgomery County Comprehensive Plan 2045 input sessions. Montgomery Matters is a Comprehensive Plan which means it is a long-range guide for growth and development in the County. https://lnkd.in/eAW9e5F3

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The government is also supporting the High Streets (Designation, Review and Improvement Plan) Bill which will ensure councils routinely develop and publish improvement plans for their high streets... What does the Bill do? The Bill would require local authorities in England to designate streets as high streets, either a single high street, or a network of high streets. Local authorities would be required to publish an improvement plan setting out proposals for the preservation and enhancement of designated high streets. Local authorities would be required to review these plans every five years and to consider them when exercising planning functions. Analysis undertaken by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on the anticipated financial implications of the Bill states that projected public expenditure resulting from the Bill’s proposals would be no greater than £26 million every five years. The government have committed to funding the cost of up to three designations per local authority. The Bill applies to England only.

Monterey Commits to Infill, Not Sprawl, on Fort Ord Lands Fort Ord is listed as a buffer in the Monterey City Housing Element, which means infill is the priority for the City. View the E-Alert: https://lnkd.in/gyavzQ2t

Great insights were shared at the FOCUS St. Louis event! Former St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, Former St. Louis County Council Member Colleen Wasinger, and Former President & CEO of Bi-State Development and Mayor of Chesterfield John Nations provided valuable nuggets on finding common ground through civil discourse. Here are some key takeaways from the event: 1. Building relationships is crucial to achieving success. 2. Working across party lines is necessary for progress. 3. Disagreements can be productive, as long as they are respectful. 4. Avoid seeking attention in a negative way. 5. Politics should be about the business of people, not outside agendas. 6. Our young people need more ways to connect and get involved. It was good to hear the discussion on how we can improve civil discourse in our community. Thank you to Yemi A. Akande-Bartsch, Ph.D and Jody Sowell Sowell for facilitating these important discussions. Let's continue to strive for civil discourse and finding common ground. #FOCUSStLouis #CivilDiscourse #CommunityDiscussions

What is best for Elmbridge? This is the central question in an open letter to residents on the draft Local Plan from the Leader, Councillor Mike Rollings. You can read the letter on our website: https://ow.ly/hSas50TBXns

We hope you're following along as we delve into the 27 Charter principles of the Charter of the #NewUrbanism! This Charter principle is at the scale of The Neighborhood, The District, and The Corridor. 17/27 https://lnkd.in/gia8_5e