Stantec’s Post

Are Local Development Schemes just not ambitious enough in driving forward sound local plans, or can more be done to streamline and "fast track" the system to ensure planned sustainable growth? Some insightful reflections from both Michael Knott and Anna Rose. Answers on a postcard please. #stantec #localplans #planningreforms #sustainabledevelopment

Local Plans? Planning Reforms? major government objectives? Some really insightful observations from Anna Rose and Michael Knott expect more thoughts and commentary from Stantec in the coming weeks #regeneration #strategicland #publicsector #urbanregeneration

This was an important conversation at our Stantec round table last week. We brought together a diverse mix of leading industry voices to discuss how universal local plan coverage can support delivering growth. This matters because it will take everyone collaborating together to accelerate the process. Check out the quick takeaways in the video from my colleague Michael Knott and Anna Rose from Planning Advisory Service (PAS) #leadership #planning #solutions

The Local Growth and Sustainability Grant (LGSG) is a new infrastructure grant program that will address growth pressures for municipalities throughout Alberta.   Alberta’s government is launching the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant to help local communities manage population growth pressure on public infrastructure. Alberta’s dynamic economy has led to rapid population growth, which is creating challenges for local communities as more and more people use their roads, bridges, and water treatment systems. Budget 2024 introduced the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant to help communities manage these challenges. The Local Growth and Sustainability Grant will provide $60 million over three years to assist communities that are experiencing significant growth. It will also allow communities to capitalize on economic development opportunities including support for new industrial and commercial development. Applications for the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant are now open and close on November 29, 2024. https://lnkd.in/g_AtcPSn

🚧 Detailed NPPF Changes Incoming! 🚧 The UK Government is proposing a comprehensive overhaul of the National Planning Policy Framework. Here are the key updates: 1. Increased Planning Fees: To enhance local authority services. 2. Housing Delivery: Stronger targets for affordable housing and clearer guidelines on meeting housing needs. 3. Environmental Protection: New policies for biodiversity net gain and climate change mitigation. 4. Infrastructure Projects: Streamlined approval for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects. 5. Design and Beauty: Emphasis on good design, including local design codes. 6. Community Engagement: Enhanced public involvement in planning processes. 7. Green Belt & Rural Areas: Continued protection and more flexibility for rural development. 8. Digital Innovation: Push for digital tools in planning. Join the conversation and share your thoughts by 24th September 2024! 🔗 [Full details and consultation](https://lnkd.in/gF3JjSMn) #NPPFReforms #Planning #UKDevelopment #Sustainability #CommunityVoice #EnvironmentalProtection #UrbanPlanning

GFL Environmental Inc. is selling its Environmental Services business for $8.0 billion to to two funds, Apollo Funds and BC Partners. GFL will retain a $1.7 billion equity interest in the Environmental Services business and expects to realize cash proceeds of approximately $6.2 billion net of the retained equity and taxes. “The sale of our Environmental Services business at an enterprise value of $8.0 billion is substantially above our initial expectations and is a testament to the quality of the business that we have built,” said Patrick Dovigi, founder and CEO of GFL. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gbP2iG87 #EnvironmentalServices #EnvironmentalGroup #EnvironmentalBusiness

💡 Thanks for flagging the Planning Hub Caroline Brown in the Programme for Government. Its aim is to ‘build capacity and resilience, and to improve consistency and efficiency in decision-making’ with an initial focus on hydrogen applications then moving on to housing and onshore wind. 💫 At Planning Aid Scotland we stand ready to bring our community engagement and planning expertise to support the success of what the Planning Hub aims to achieve. 🗣️ Good community engagement is crucial to inclusive participation in the planning system and to getting the best decisions and places for our communities. If we don’t get this right, delay and disillusionment will only get worse. ❓Interesting to note the Planning Hub sits between references to Regional Economic Partnerships and Community Wealth Building. The Hub will no doubt aim to be plugged into the regions and local communities in the context of the need for a Local Government funding model that is sustainable, empowering and benefits the communities it serves. #planninghub #community #empowerment #engagement

With the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund also the #automotiveindustry 🚗 is receiving extensive support on its path to electromobility. With ~15% of funding dedicated to zero-emissions #transportation, the fund supports the U.S. climate goal of reaching 50 percent zero-emission vehicles share of all new passenger cars and light trucks sold in 2030. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is thus clearing the way for #electricvehicles

T&M’s President and CEO, Gary Dahms, PE, PP interviewed with The Commerce and Industry Association of NJ Magazine to discuss NJ’s ongoing infrastructure updates. He discusses how New Jersey is utilizing the $12+ billion from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) to enhance safety, sustainability, and equity through projects like the Gateway Project, public transit improvements, and clean energy initiatives. These updates aim to modernize infrastructure, address environmental goals, and support underserved communities while preparing for future challenges. https://joom.ag/zM7d/p18

Earlier this week, we announced our appointment to Yorkshire Water’s £850m complex non-infrastructure works framework as part of their AMP8 investment programme. This milestone underscores the strength of our Water business unit within Kier’s Natural Resources, Nuclear, and Energy division. This framework, along with our recent successes on United Utilities, Southern Water, Wessex Water, and Anglian Water Services Water frameworks and alliances demonstrates our ongoing commitment to delivering improvements to the UK’s water infrastructure. As we continue into AMP8, we are proud to play a key role in transforming water and wastewater assets while making a positive impact on the communities we serve.