Silverstone Communications

Did you know that only 11% of people under 40 have participated in any form of consultation regarding infrastructure? Yet this age group represents one in five of the overall population. We can't simply shrug our shoulders and blame so-called apathy among the youth. This is a challenge that the entire sector must address. At Silverstone Communications, we are actively seeking solutions. We've been fortunate to have collaborated with Bethany Price, a recent graduate, to better understand the challenges at hand. I encourage you to read her insightful blog on the subject. If this issue resonates with you, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s work together to challenge the status quo and bring people together to find a common purpose. #NextGenVoices #Collaboration #CommonPurpose #InnovationInAction #CivicParticipation #FutureLeaders Steve Neocleous Elyssa FanningGuy Dixon Charles Collins Flo Powell MCIPR Catriona Riddell Johnny Clayton University of Sussex University of Brighton

📣 Planning Committee Tested in Brighton ⏳ With mandatory housing targets coming down the line, the pressure is on local authorities across the country to approve housing developments to meet their targets. The same is true for Brighton & Hove.     🏘 The Planning Committee at Brighton & Hove City Council are yet to approve any housing development over 28 units since the Labour administration took over in May 2023. The Planning Committee has denied planning permission for large scale developments, such as the controversial application for the Brighton gasworks site to be transformed into 495 new homes which was rejected by seven votes to three in May 2024.     📈 Last week, Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government stated that mandatory housing targets will be arriving, and the figures for each area are now available. Areas such as London, Birmingham and Coventry will all see their housing targets lowered, whereas many other areas have had targets doubled. Brighton and Hove have seen their housing target rise by 5% under the new method which is not especially significant,since the target has only increased from 2319 to 2435, however the average annual housebuilding rate currently stands at only 1018.     📑 The test will come soon for Brighton & Hove as large-scale developers will hope to benefit from the new government’s targets, and BHCC will have to manage planning considerations, the wants and needs of local people and the pressure from central government. The first test will be an application from the city council itself to build 15 flats on the site of the former Windlesham House Community Centre, Portslade. This application is due to be discussed at the Planning Committee meeting on 7th August and isn’t particularly controversial. Another application recently submitted are plans for 101 new homes in Benfield Valley. Benfield Property Ltd, who are the applicants, are looking to build houses on 10% of the site and leave the rest as community parkland, however the large scale development if approved will be the largest that has received planning permission by the Labour administration.     ❓ The question remains on what the impact will be of the national mandatory housing targets to local authorities and their planning approval rates, specifically Brighton & Hove. Whilst this happens, developers should continue to use the mandatory housing targets to their benefit, but with caution, as planning considerations will still come into play. Developer contributions will still be vitally important to mitigate the scale of development, and assist in building and maintaining infrastructure in areas of large scale development.  #mandatoryhousingtargets #brightonandhove #politicalengagement

Here at Silverstone Communications, we're wishing everyone a fabulous weekend at Brighton Pride! 🏳️🌈 We hope everyone enjoys the sun and has a fun and safe weekend! ☀️ #brightonpride

🚨 The newly-designed Brighton Bulletin is here! ❗ We have given the Brighton Bulletin a refresh, but don't worry, it still has all the key information from Brighton this month, and now it also includes what Silverstone Communications have been getting up to as well. 👀 Take a look and let us know what you think. To click the links and see more, download to your device or use accessibility mode. You can do this by making it full screen and clicking one of the options. #brightonbulletin

🚨 Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, has further cemented the Labour Party’s manifesto promise to ‘get Britain building’ through new local housing targets. The Labour government has pledged to build 1.5 million homes during their term, raising annual housing targets to over 370,000 from the previous 300,000 that the Tories had promised. ❗ We have put together a short blog including her highlights, her lowlights and the questions we still have after her announcements. 📖 Take a read, and let us know what you think about her pledges. 📧 If you need any support in understanding what the new housing targets mean for you and your developments, get in touch with us. #angelarayner #housingstrategy #NPPF #politicalengagement

📣 Here is another one of our series 'What Silverstone Communications have been up to this week'! This week:   ◾Steve Neocleous engaged with key stakeholders in Rye on behalf of one of our clients  ◾Steve Neocleous met one of our clients at Soho House in Brighton for updates on their project  ◾We are very proud that Bethany Price and Elyssa Fanning both graduated from the University of Sussex 👀 Keep an eye out every Friday for our weekly round-up. Andy Parsons Gareth Giles FRTPI Molly McLean MRTPI Amy Wolanski Dominic Arnold Rob Pollard Lyndsey Clay

❗ Here is a blog on engagement from under-40s in the planning process from Bethany Price, our University of Sussex Intern who is looking into how to engage young people in planning. 🚨 Why Under-40s Must Engage with Planning Applications Let's face it: when it comes to planning consultations, we often hear from the same groups of people - typically older age groups and most are already homeowners. The whole point of public consultations is to gather various perspectives from residents, businesses, interest groups, and experts. This diversity should lead to decisions that truly reflect the community's needs and preferences. Unfortunately, we're not quite there yet. One major gap is the lack of input from younger people. This is a huge oversight, considering that new developments will impact them the most. Understanding how young people feel about these changes is crucial as towns and cities grow and change. They'll be the main users of new infrastructure, housing, and amenities, so their input is essential for good long-term planning. Younger generations bring fresh ideas and perspectives that can drive innovation in urban planning. Their involvement can help us break away from outdated approaches and create modern solutions that fit today's lifestyles and technology. For example, young people might raise concerns about increased traffic congestion or environmental impact that older generations might overlook. They also tend to prioritise things like affordable housing, modern public transportation, green spaces, and vibrant community centres. Economic challenges like student debt, job instability, and the need for affordable housing are particularly pressing for younger adults. These issues can be highlighted when they get involved in planning applications, leading to developments that support economic opportunities and affordable living conditions. Getting people under 40 to engage with planning applications isn't just about solving immediate problems—it's about fostering a culture of civic participation. Early involvement can lead to a lifetime of active community engagement, ensuring that future generations continue to have a voice in shaping their surroundings. The final decision gains legitimacy when the public is involved in the decision-making process. This often leads to greater acceptance and voluntary compliance with the approved plans, reducing the likelihood of conflicts and opposition during implementation. So, when young people speak up—whether in support or discontent—it can significantly speed up the process and align new developments with their ideals. In short, we need to hear more from young people in urban planning. Their voices can help us create communities that are innovative, inclusive, and ready for the future. Let's make sure they have a seat at the table. #planning #communityengagement

📣 Here is another one of our series 'What Silverstone Communications have been up to this week'! This week: ◾Geri Silverstone has completed his Help to Grow Management Course ◾Geri Silverstone and Elyssa Fanning engaged with key stakeholders at Ospringe Parish Council meeting ◾Steve Neocleous attended The Barrow Club at the Grand Hotel, Brighton 👀 Keep an eye out every Friday for our weekly round-up. Sophie Ward Paul Britton Chris Mansfield David Pegler Matthew Cox

The King's Speech today contained the government's promise to accelerate housebuilding. However, does this raise more questions than answers? Here are some of the questions we think still require more detail: Specific Reforms: What specific reforms to planning procedures are being proposed? How will these reforms differ from current regulations? Impact on Local Communities: How will these changes affect local communities, particularly in terms of public consultation and local decision-making? Environmental Considerations: What measures will be taken to ensure that accelerated housebuilding does not come at the expense of environmental protections and sustainable development practices? Infrastructure and Services: How will the necessary infrastructure and services (e.g., transportation, schools, healthcare) be developed to support the increased housing? Quality and Standards: How will the government ensure that the quality and standards of new housing are maintained or improved? Affordability: Will these reforms address housing affordability issues? How will the government ensure that the new houses built are affordable for those in need? Funding and Investment: What funding and investment will be required to support these reforms? Where will this funding come from? Timeline and Targets: What is the timeline for implementing these reforms, and what specific targets are being set for housebuilding? Economic Impact: How will this initiative impact the broader economy, particularly in terms of job creation and economic growth? Regional Disparities: How will the government ensure that the benefits of increased housebuilding are distributed evenly across the country, addressing regional disparities? Implementation Challenges: What challenges or obstacles does the government anticipate in implementing these reforms, and how do they plan to address them? Monitoring and Evaluation: How will the government monitor and evaluate the success of these reforms? What metrics will be used to measure progress? Stakeholder Involvement: How will the government involve key stakeholders, such as local authorities, developers, and community groups, in the reform process? Historical Precedents: Have similar initiatives been attempted in the past? If so, what were the outcomes and lessons learned? These questions highlight the complexities and potential implications of the proposed reforms to planning procedures aimed at accelerating housebuilding in Britain. If you have ongoing projects or projects in the pipeline and you need some advice on how your project could be affected, or you need some help with community engagement or political communications then please get in touch. #kingsspeech #planningreforms #acceleratehousebuilding #builtenvironment