Client: Trenport Investments
Our research team is sometimes called upon to give evidence at public inquiries. One example was on behalf of development company, Trenport Investments, who’s planning application for a new village was called in by the Secretary of State for consideration alongside two additional applications from other developers with sites in proximity to Trenport’s.
One of these sites was Kings Hill Business Park in West Malling. The developer - Rouse Kent - had applied to replace nearly 75,000 sq m of future B1 office development for alternative residential and community uses. Our role was to assess whether this reduction would adversely impact upon Kent’s ability to attract employment in the future.
The scope of our evidence was wide-ranging. It included an analysis of economic growth forecasts - not just for the local economy, but also for the business sectors most likely to occupy business park premises – alongside an in-depth analysis of occupational trends for office occupiers within the South East region. It also included a detailed description of employment policies at a regional, sub-regional, county and local level to assess whether Rouse Kent’s application supported such policies.
After several years of planning and public consultation, all three sites were granted planning permission, allowing Trenport Investments to develop its new village.
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