Connected economies: what we learned about planning, housing and transport at Steer Group’s UKREiiF fringe event

UKREiiF is over for another year, and once again Steer and Amberside Advisors are pleased to have contributed to our fringe event ‘Connected economies: Unlocking growth through integrated transport, housing and infrastructure’. 

Since Rachel Reeves set out her vision for sustainable and inclusive new towns at last year’s UKREiiF, the UK Government has set a clear target to build 1.5 million homes, as well as to grow the economy and bring down carbon emissions. Achieving all these outcomes and taking local communities along on the journey will be no mean feat. We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create liveable, sustainable and thriving communities through a more integrated approach to planning new transport, housing and jobs; supported by greater devolution, integrated funding settlements and planning reform. 

To discuss the challenge of delivering truly inclusive and sustainable connected communities, we brought together a panel of experts for a lively breakfast event, hosted by Steer Director Nicola Kane. Our Speakers: Steph Everett (Head of Regeneration and Development, Rochdale Development Agency), Stacey White (Head of Place and Consent - Mass Transit Programme, West Yorkshire Combined Authority), Paul Buntin (Head of Development, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority), Ben Pretty (Partner - National Development & Strategic Advisory Team, Cushman & Wakefield), and Neil Rutledge (Director, Amberside Advisors) all provided provocations in a rapid fire PechaKucha style presentation session. Attendees were then given the opportunity to exchange their own views in a series of lively roundtables.  

Our key takeaways were:  

Vision-led transformation: Targets are one thing, but ensuring they are met in a way that delivers for local people is another. ‘People not projects’ was the sign-off for one of our speakers, who outlined how tailoring development so that it works for residents on the ground, and we create places that people actually want to live in, is essential for success. This requires a more vision-led approach with local communities involved in co-designing the vision from the outset. 

Agglomeration and densification: We heard about the West Yorkshire Mass Transit system and how planning this hand in hand with housing and economic development will reap huge benefits. More densely populated West Yorkshire towns and cities, connected by a high-capacity and integrated transport network (now branded “the Weaver network”), and streets and public spaces designed with people in mind are all coming together to enable more inclusive and economically dynamic places.  

Collaboration and integration: From Greater Manchester, we heard about Rochdale’s focus on delivering new development in the accessible locations around its many rail stations. The Rochdale Rail Corridor strategy is capitalising on existing rail stations to build 7,000 new homes along with active travel infrastructure, leisure facilities and job opportunities. As well as emphasising the importance of playing to an area’s existing strengths, the Rochdale Rail Corridor is the result of collaboration between (among others) Rochdale Development Agency and Council, Homes England, Network Rail and Greater Manchester Combined Authority to optimise the economic, social, health, and environmental benefits of the strategy.  

Imagination and reorientation: Unlocking private capital is key to delivering on the infrastructure we need to facilitate effective and sustainable movement, which assists in delivering Net Zero commitments and housing targets. Understanding different approaches in the energy sector to deploying capital for energy transition projects was the subject of the presentation by Amberside Advisors (part of Steer Group), which outlined how different approaches, including public-private partnerships, grant funding, and competitive procurements, can be used to leverage required funding.  

With thanks to all our attendees and guests, we look forward to seeing you again next year.  

You can register to watch a recording of our Connected Economies panel here.