On-Demand Content

Session 1: Repurposing and Rejuvenating Initiatives – Town Centre Adaption from a Policy Perspective

The Government’s many initiatives on town centres, including the work of the Towns and Levelling Up Funds, the High Streets Task Force and proposals to shake up the planning system. This session will also focus on some of the possible public policy solutions to the issues faced by the high street post-pandemic, including tax and insolvency reform and initiatives such as Town Centre Investment Zones.

There will be discussion on the opportunities in repurposing some traditional retail, healthcare and leisure.

Chair: Amanda Reynolds, Founding Director and Architect, Urbanist, Masterplanner, AR Urbanism. High Streets Expert, High Streets Task Force
Presenter: Laurence Raeburn-Smith, Head of Retail Policy, British Property Federation

Session 2: Creating a Town Centre Masterplan with Regeneration and Longevity at its Core Centre – what to look for

• Developing a vision, including public realm, which brings together key regeneration principles
• Working within the planning system and with local authorities to:
  • Increase residential density and development value to create ’15 minute neighbourhoods’
  • Create better public realm space and provide a mixed-use high street
  • Bring in a wider mix of uses to establish an ’18 hour economy’
  • Utilise what is already in situ, what can be repurposed and where redevelopment is needed
  • Ensure site use is optimised bringing in site design, amenity, marketability and value
  • Working with the developer and the Council/community in partnership
  • Improving connections and access to town centres – challenging car parking provision
  • Best in class examples of regeneration and repurposing real estate with heritage in mind: Uxbridge Town Centre – department store into housing

Presenter: Amanda Reynolds, Founding Director and Architect, Urbanist, Masterplanner, AR Urbanism. High Streets Expert, High Streets Task Force

Session 3: Undertaking initial Feasibility Studies, likely Ranges of Costs, Values and Profits

Using case study examples, this session will show:

• Asset class spotlight – construction cost analysis:
  • Retail and department store conversion to housing and to laboratory and bioscience space
  • Old office and commercial space to residential and laboratory space
  • Hotel and leisure space conversion, including change of use of pubs
  • Smaller A1/A3 – department store and individual unit level on the high street
• High street development trends – learning from lessons so far
• Key cost drivers for high street and out of town construction projects
• Check list of what to consider and a ‘don’t forget’ list of hidden costs that are often overlooked – key watchouts
• A view as to where expenditure is achieving the biggest successes

Chair: Amanda Reynolds, Founding Director and Architect, Urbanist, Masterplanner, AR Urbanism. High Streets Expert, High Streets Task Force
Presenters:
Dan Hunt, Director, Commercial Cost Lead, AECOM
Alison Wring, Director, Cost Management, AECOM

Session 4: Tax Reliefs and Credits

• Tax reliefs and credits available for expenditure incurred in repurposing property, including:
  • Capital Allowances
  • Structures and Buildings Allowances
  • Land Remediation Relief
  • Lease incentives
• Enhanced reliefs introduced in Budget 2021
• Opportunities to mitigate the impact of VAT
• R&D Allowances, Tax Relief and Expenditure Credit – what qualifies and how to secure the benefits

Chair: Amanda Reynolds, Founding Director and Architect, Urbanist, Masterplanner, AR Urbanism. High Streets Expert, High Streets Task Force
Presenters: 
Tim Jackson, Director, Head of Fiscal Incentives, AECOM
Paul Farey, Director, Asset Advisory, AECOM
Phil Mackintosh, Associate Director, Fiscal Incentives, AECOM