Envision has been involved in a number of projects in relation to Local Development Frameworks. Key clients include Craven District Council; Corby Borough Council; Blackpool Council; Sefton and Knowsley Councils, and Wyre Borough Council. Our work has included Core Strategies, Site Allocations, Area Action Plans and SPD's together with supporting evidence base work such as SHLAA's and ELR's.

Examples of the type and scope of work undertaken are illustrated below:

Throughout her career, Jackie Copley has been involved in many employment land studies, half of which she held project management roles, coordinating multi-dicipline teams. She has written reports, pulling together economic assessments and forecasts, site appraisal/evaluation and property market appraisal in the context of emerging national and local policy. She has drawn conclusions and made recommendations for future employment land portfolios, suggesting sites to be afforded policy protection, sites requiring investment to overcome a range of barriers, and sites to be considered for alternative land uses. This experience has given her extensive experience in the development of employment land policy.

She has managed studies in Sheffield, Lancaster District and Staffordshire Moorlands where she was invited to do repeat 'refresh' studies. She also has experience in rural districts such as Lake District National Park where she advised on a range of rural issues and made recommendations for live/work space, farm diversification, creative industries and rolling out of Superfast broadband. Since working with the Envision Group, she has been part of the Lambert Smith Hampton team progressing a 'refresh' employment land study for South Lakeland.

Envision was engaged to initially assess the results of the previous Issues and Options consultation, feeding this back to a stakeholder workshop in order to firm up the Vision for the District and seek consensus on the preferred options in relation to a series of topics. The existing evidence base was reviewed and supplemented where required and the preferred options prepared together with a series of public consultation exercises throughout the district. The resulting Preferred Options report comprised a comprehensive document covering

The report (as approved and adopted by the Council) was subject to further public and stakeholder consultation and is now moving forward towards final adoption.

David Williams and Keith Keeley were commissioned to assist in the preparation of the South Beach Area Action Plan, one of three being prepared by the Council for the Inner Resort Core Areas. The Commission related to the preparation of a comprehensive evidence base involving extensive desk top and original field study leading to the preparation of an Issues and Options Report.

The work was undertaken throughout 2008 and was presented as a Neighbourhood Profile document describing current conditions and emerging issues relating to: Land Use; Employment; Retail; Housing; People and Community; Community Facilities; Environment; Heritage and Townscape.

Keith Keeley has continued to work with officers of Blackpool Council, assisting with the preparation of the AAP Issues and Options document, which was based on the findings of the Neighbourhood Profile. Kate Bailey was commissioned to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal of the draft document prior to extensive public consultation in 2010.

Envision were engaged to undertake the Council’s Strategic Land Availability Assessment. Following initial consultation on the draft methodology, Envision suggested that all potential sites for both employment and housing should be incorporated into the study, hence a Strategic Housing and Employment Land Availability Assessment (SHELAA). In accordance with the government’s guidance and methodology, a review of over 1000 potential sites together with new survey work resulted in a survey of 350 sites for both housing and employment.

A new database was set up and GIS mapping coordinated to ensure a clear list of sites could be assessed for their suitability, availability and viability. In addition to working with a housing and employment market partnership, consultation was undertaken with a full range of landowners, developers, statutory organisations and other interested parties. The following detailed assessment reduced the sites down to 182 developable and deliverable sites for consideration as part of the Site Allocations DPD.

The final 60 page report was prepared including full analysis of the resulting sites and their implications against housing requirements for the districts and the various settlements within it. In addition there were numerous Appendices and Annexes setting out the background research material. It was highlighted by consultants for the Regional Assembly as an example of good practice for the region.

Envision was commissioned to update strengthen and complete a draft Employment Land Review for Craven District Council in 2008. This was in parallel with the SHELAA.

The study followed Government Guidance and undertook work to: