Projects

PRD is working within a multidisciplinary team of architects and civil engineers to deliver a strategic framework to support onward delivery of regeneration in Colchester city centre. Jointly commissioned by Colchester City Council and Essex County Council, the work is focused on unlocking a coordinated programme of high-quality development and public realm upgrades across a portfolio of council-owned sites.

PRD’s role spans viability analysis, governance advice and delivery strategy. We have provided development appraisals for a range of potential development options across council-owned sites, from car parks to unused brownfield land. This exercise offered a market-facing view on phasing, risk and public value. Our appraisals revealed opportunities for both early delivery and cross-subsidy to ensure the right scale and mix of development is achieved for the long-term vitality of Colchester.

Beyond viability, PRD is advising on partnership structures and delivery vehicles that reflect the willingness and capacity of Colchester City and Essex County Councils. This includes supporting the evolution of regeneration partnership agreements and preparing a business plan for future targeted investment. Our work ensures that site delivery is grounded in market reality without foregoing ambitious placemaking and long-term value creation.

The Delivery Framework and associated support will guide future decision making and align public resources behind shared priorities. The programme plays a pivotal role in reshaping Colchester’s urban form, delivering homes, new public spaces and a reimagined transport interchange, supporting the city’s wider growth story across North Essex.

The London Borough of Lambeth sought to establish a council-owned housing company to reach ambitious targets for building new social rented housing. PRD initially advised on organisational structuring, delivery strategy and programme management options; undertook extensive engagement and education with councillors, officers, and other stakeholders; liaised with tax, accounting, and legal advisors to test the robustness of the proposed structure against Homes for Lambeth’s (HfL) development goals; helped establish a company Board; and supported the Board to consider messaging and opportunities to meet wider council objectives.

Since Cabinet approved PRD’s recommendation to establish HfL as a wholly-owned company with a group structure and the detailed governance proposals, we have continued to support HfL at the Board, executive and wider stakeholder levels. With partners , PRD has carried out business and resource planning, co-ordinated legal advice on loans and financing, prepared documents for the Regulator of Social Housing, and developed agreements between the council and HfL.

Together with Hatch, PRD supported Invest Northern Ireland to explore and develop a range of structured joint venture models to co-ordinate investment into Local Enterprise Agencies (LEAs) across Northern Ireland with the aim of delivering affordable workspace.

Working closely with Invest Northern Ireland and in consultation with a broad selection of LEAs, PRD analysed the barriers to and opportunities for delivery, then tested several new models and approaches for delivery through client consultation.

PRD proposed innovative delivery models with new, active stakeholder roles for local and national government alongside the LEAs. The models made best use of the resources, property assets, skills and powers of each party to deliver locally-tailored workspace.

Limerick Colbert is a large regeneration site at the edge of Limerick city centre with capacity for more than 2500 homes and 112,500 m² of retail and workspace, which will support anticipated 50% population growth by 2040. For Ireland’s Land Development Agency, the site is an opportunity to set a standard for public development in the country.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team of architects and planners, PRD supplied a socioeconomic baseline, reviewing local demographics, the current housing and employment space markets, and inward investment to inform a masterplan for Limerick Colbert.

To ensure the masterplan can be delivered on this complex, multi-landowner site, PRD co-ordinated a landowner workshop and developed a delivery strategy which sets out a proposed joint venture structure, financing options, and delivery priorities.

PRD supported London and Continental Railways and Worthing Borough Council in designing, structuring and launching an innovative public-public partnership focused on development and regeneration.

The partnership will initially focus on promoting and realising development on several publicly owned but previously stalled town centre sites. Development of the sites will help realise the council’s vision for the town centre.

We subsequently provided further development management and commercial support to mobilise the partnership.