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Latest: Campaign to fill eyesore development schemes

Posted by Richard in Property News, 18th March 2010, 5:09pm

A new national campaign to let communities use mothballed development sites is being backed by the country’s biggest developers, including Land Securities and Westfield.

Dinosaurs and allotments are among the first success stories of the Site Life campaign, launched by industry magazine Property Week, which aims to open up sites which have been hit by recession. The British Property Federation (BPF) is pushing its developer members to landscape stalled sites and give them back to the community until they can afford to get building.

While few can blame developers for the fact that financial pressures have put the dampers on hundreds of new schemes, many communities have been angry that city centres have been left derelict and unusable. The ‘Sit Life’ campaign will see the property industry foot the bill for short term changes to the sites, provided councils can assure them that planning permission will remain.

With public safety being a key issue – and the developers held responsible for anyone on their site – changes can often be costly. Brownfield sites are rarely flat surfaces or fields that can be treated with a lick of paint or some goal posts. But since commercial developers are focused on long-term engagement with communities, they see the potential gain in comparatively minor investment.

Additionally, with all political parties proposing a greater localization of planning powers, landlords are keen to have a great level of engagement with councils.

Liz Peace, British Property Federation chief executive, said: “This campaign will show that developers care about the local environment and can use their innovation to deal with the challenges brought about by the economic crisis. As well as building relations with communities, this will strengthen ties with local councils by helping them to improve their environments. However, it is absolutely essential that formal agreements are reached over the timescale of interim use changes to ensure developers aren’t left with something they cannot develop once they are able to continue with their plans.”

The Site Life campaign is not just about empty sites. The UK’s towns and cities are also full of empty buildings, which could be used to host anything from art galleries to performance events.

Central government also has a role. Last year the government launched a £3m fund to bring empty shops back into this type of use in the recession.

The downturn has been horrendous for property, and 2009 was the worst year that many can remember. If our campaign gathers momentum, at least empty sites and buildings can bring some temporary relief to developers and communities, rather than being stark reminders of the recession that has hit the industry so hard.

The campaign also has the backing of London mayor Boris Johnson.

"A strong property and construction industry is crucial in ensuring our city develops and retains the competitive qualities that make it so popular with investors around the world,” he said.

Johnson says the Mayor’s Office and the Greater London Authority were working with developers to kickstart stalled developments and provide affordable housing, but was keen to see temporary uses in the meantime.

"Unfortunately, some sites remain in limbo due to the effects of the recession and this Property Week campaign is a welcome and timely initiative,” says Johnson. “With the full support of the industry, we should shortly see the transformation of abandoned sites across London into new food-growing spaces, art installations and temporary sport facilities, all benefiting the local community."