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.

PRD supported Guy’s & St Thomas’ (GSTT) on their 15-year, £4bn regeneration of its Westminster Bridge and London Bridge campuses. Pre-Covid, PRD worked alongside GSTT in their offices to provide on-demand advice on all property-related matters.

Recent work has included developing proposals for partnerships with key stakeholders and landowners; providing evidence and information to generate support from the governance teams; and identifying and working up proposals for assets that will allow assist with decanting in the short term and further capitalise on regeneration uplift in the long term.

PRD has developed a range of viability models to guide the work programme. We have also helped soft-market test ideas with developers, investors and occupiers, particularly in the MedTech and life sciences sectors, and have managed external consultants on behalf of GSTT to ensure that they receive the best advice possible.

Imperial College London’s White City estate is a world-class research campus located near a major London hub for media, leisure, retail, and nightlife. Imperial commissioned PRD to assess the amenities and public realm at the White City campus and make the case for new placemaking initiatives befitting of one of the most innovative universities in the world.

PRD reviewed the existing ‘landscape’ and asset base at White City, covering aspects such as public realm and connectivity, amenities such as eating places and public events, business/networking opportunities, and the university’s ties to surrounding communities. We engaged the Imperial board, development team, and on-site students, researchers, and incubator enterprises to gather wide-ranging views on what works well about the campus and what could be improved—from business support and networking opportunities to the campus food and beverage offer.

Our final report and presentation to Imperial included examples of inspirational, replicable placemaking interventions from leading research hubs in other cities; the cost of inaction; and a call to establish Imperial White City as an Innovation District with next steps to achieve this.

Working alongside and Atkins, Oxford City Council, Oxford County Council, Network Rail, and the Oxfordshire LEP, PRD is providing strategic property development, value capture, viability and delivery advice to inform and guide the updated masterplan for this globally important city gateway.

Drawing on our experience of harnessing infrastructure investment to drive wider benefits, our economic work in Oxford and our strong background in formulating delivery options and viability assessments, we are establishing a business case for adjacent station redevelopment and bringing delivery certainty to the project.

Development in Runcorn faces several delivery challenges and constraints, including multiple land ownership, safeguarded land and challenging local property market economics.

PRD provided market insight for Runcorn’s Station Quarter as part of a multidisciplinary team. Our input included an in-depth contextual market baseline of local and regional property market economics, developed through data analysis and consultations with agents, key public-sector stakeholders, landowners and key leaseholders. PRD also appraised the development options for the emerging masterplan, which includes consideration of how the council can use its assets to deliver the masterplan and stimulate wider investment in the area.

The masterplan will catalyse wider regeneration in Runcorn, including the town centre, and harness the regeneration potential of HS2.