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A leading property consultancy has helped a housing developer win an appeal to build up to 170 homes at a site in north Leicestershire after giving detailed evidence at a public inquiry.

Fisher German helped David Wilson Homes and Anthony Raymond Shuttlewood win its appeal against Charnwood Borough Council, which initially refused its outline planning application to create up to 170 homes at a site off Cossington Road, Sileby.

The Council initially refused permission on its officers’ advice as the site was in an ‘Area of Local Separation’ (ALS) between Sileby and nearby Cossington and that Sileby had already met the target growth as set out in the Council’s Development Plan.

However, David Wilson Homes appealed, and its case was bolstered by Fisher German’s expertise in planning matters.

Angela Brooks, Associate Director at Fisher German, was called as an expert planning witness by Paul Tucker QC, acting for David Wilson Homes, at the public inquiry.

The presumption in favour of sustainable development was engaged as the council were unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of housing.

Angela was able to successfully demonstrate that the any negative effects of the proposed development in terms of character and appearance and the conflict with the development plan were outweighed by the clear benefits.

Despite the Council’s disagreement, she argued that the development was in a sustainable location, would make provision for affordable housing and other infrastructure requirements as well as a significant over provision of open space ensuring that incursion into the ALS was minimised.

The Planning Inspector agreed with her submissions and David Wilson Homes’ case and allowed the appeal.
Angela said: “This is a fantastic result for David Wilson Homes – we felt its application did not contradict relevant guidelines and that there was a good chance the appeal would be allowed by the Planning Inspector.

“While the site was indeed in the ALS, under half of it will be developed with built form, and the separation between Sileby and Cossington would remain.

“We’re delighted the Planning Inspector agreed with our submissions and that David Wilson Homes will now be able to deliver much-needed housing in north Leicestershire.”
John Reddington, Managing Director at David Wilson Homes East Midlands, said: “Winning the appeal for a new development in Sileby is fantastic news as it brings the delivery of 170 much needed new homes ever closer for Leicestershire property seekers.
“The plans for the development include a mix of housing and will form part of a major investment in this part of the county. Our development would also underpin approximately 340 jobs for local people.”

The landowner’s Strategic Development Consultant, John Edmond of Silver Fox Development Consultancy, said: “This detailed proposal was an important test of the Council’s Area of Separation Policy. The Inspector noted that the perceptual reduction in the Area of Separation would be limited to relatively small sections with the area of different routes around the site, while the significant area of public open space proposed would retain a meaningful break in the built form.

“It was a great result that will meaningfully assist the Council in its delivery of market and affordable housing. It was a pleasure to work with a great professional team led by Paul Tucker QC.”

This was posted in Bdaily’s Members’ News section
by

Matt Joyce
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KAM Project Consultants has announced its opening of a new office in Nottingham. The locale will enable KAM to expand into the East Midlands, where it is already enjoying growing client demand.

Established in 2013, KAM Project Consultants is a project delivery consultancy in the construction and infrastructure sector. Focused on the industrial, commercial, mixed-use and hospitality markets, it boasts six offices across Europe.

KAM’s fifth UK office opened its doors in early May, in the Castle Gate area of Nottingham. Despite a challenging few years, the East Midlands industrial market has continued to thrive, with vast amounts of money going into new warehousing thanks to the region’s central position. As such, the new location expands on its KAM’s existing portfolio in the East Midlands, where the firm is currently working on several high-profile projects.

Senior Associate Mat Daley commented, “The opening of the Nottingham office ensures KAM are best placed to support this growing demand and allow us to better serve both new and existing clients. With several of the Leicester team joining me on the move, I look forward to working alongside them to embrace new opportunities and strengthen KAM’s position as market leaders.”

Daley will closely support KAM Co-founder and Director Mike Wilcock in heading up the new office. Associate Project Manager, Nick Orton has also re-located from KAM’s Leicester office to bolster the senior team, with a number of new colleagues set to join in the coming months. The firm is currently open to applications from cost and project managers of varying levels, as it looks to expand teams in both Midlands offices.

Speaking on the Nottingham opening in particular, KAM Director Wilcock noted, “We are delighted to be growing our presence and expanding our team of cost managers and project managers in the East Midlands. We have had great success over the last eight years delivering logistics, distribution and manufacturing facilities for both developers and customers across the UK and overseas. Opening an office in Nottingham is an exciting next step in KAM’s structured growth plan and we can’t wait to see what the road ahead brings.”

KAM is headquartered in Milton Keynes, and aside from its Nottingham and Leicester locales, it also has UK presences in Cambridge and Manchester. The firm’s German office is meanwhile located in Berlin. Its diverse client base includes DHL, Amazon, Asda, Aberdeen Standard Investments, JD and Blackrock, among others.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Sonder Holdings Inc. (“Sonder”, Nasdaq: SOND), a leading next-generation hospitality company that is redefining the guest experience through technology and design, is set to open a 401-unit property at Business Bay in Dubai later this year. It will become the largest property in Sonder’s global portfolio.

Developed by SAAS Properties and operated by Sonder, the 35-story building is meticulously finished throughout. Its guest amenities will include an elegant lobby with marble flooring, a swimming pool surrounded by cabanas, a F&B outlet, and a state-of-the-art fitness center.

“We’re building the future of hospitality, applying design and technology to meet the needs of modern travelers, while offering developers flexibility and freedom from daily operational responsibilities. Opening our third location in Dubai makes us one of the largest full-building serviced apartment operators in the market, and the region remains a focus for Sonder. We’re proud to partner with SAAS Properties, a highly regarded real estate developer,” said Martin Picard, Co-Founder and Global Head of Real Estate at Sonder.

“Sonder combines local expertise with a global brand that appeals to the modern generation of travelers. Sonder is an experienced and well capitalized partner and we’re pleased to have them manage and operate our Business Bay property, which will provide guests with high-end accommodation and amenities, in a premium location moments from the Dubai Mall and Downtown Dubai,” said Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Chief Executive Officer at SAAS Properties.

Driven Properties, a Dubai-based real estate development management consultancy, advised both parties on the deal.

Sonder Business Bay occupies a prime, central location, near the Dubai Mall and iconic Burj Khalifa, ideal for both business and leisure travelers. The property features 401 thoughtfully designed serviced apartments, available for both short and extended stays. They range in size from studio to 3-bedroom, and many have skyline and Dubai canal views.

The property joins the existing 465 units Sonder operates at its two other locations in Dubai, bringing its total portfolio in the city to 866 units. Sonder JBR The Walk opened in late 2019, and was joined by Sonder Downtown Towers in fall 2021. These locations offer serviced apartments with up to 4 bedrooms in prime locations, with on-site amenities including a swimming pool and fitness room at each property.

Headquartered in San Francisco, Sonder operates in 35+ cities across ten countries – seven of which are in EMEA – and has approximately 19,300 live and contracted units worldwide as of Q1 2022. The company partners with real estate owners and landlords to lease, manage and operate hotel and multi-unit buildings in prime locations. Sonder distinguishes itself in the hospitality industry through modern design and by infusing technology into its guest experience. This tech-enabled experience puts guests in full control of their stay. They can access everything they need – from booking, to interacting with guest services, to check-out – via their own mobile device from anywhere and at any time, using the Sonder app.

Sonder recently announced EMEA expansion in Spain and the UK & Ireland, and shared its Cash Flow Positive Plan which prioritizes reaching positive quarterly free cash flow within 2023 without additional fundraising and while preserving a robust cash cushion. Sonder also provides corporate travel offerings and is live with all major Global Distribution System (GDS) networks. Sonder works in partnership with leading travel management companies such as ABC Global Services and Egencia for business traveler-specific bookings. Sonder also recently committed to eliminating single-use plastic amenities in all of its guest-facing units no later than Dec. 31, 2022, as part of the company’s wider sustainability commitments under its People, Place & Planet framework.

To explore Sonder real estate partnership opportunities, please contact [email protected].

About Sonder

Sonder (Nasdaq: SOND) is revolutionizing hospitality through innovative, tech-enabled service and inspiring, thoughtfully designed accommodations combined into one seamless experience. Launched in 2014 and headquartered in San Francisco, Sonder provides a variety of accommodation options — from spacious rooms to fully-equipped suites and apartments — found in over 35 markets spanning ten countries and three continents. The Sonder app gives guests full control over their stay. Complete with self-service features, simple check-in and 24/7 on-the-ground support, amenities and services at Sonder are just a tap away, making a world of better stays open to all.

To learn more, visit www.sonder.com or follow Sonder on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Download the Sonder app on Apple or Google Play.

Peter Henderson
Sonder Inc.

Called Starbridge, the community is planned near the intersection of Highway 59 and Doris Road in Beasley, about 41 miles southwest of downtown Houston near Rosenberg.

Work is underway on the initial phase of Starbridge, which includes 815 homes across 375 acres, Starwood Land said. The first homes are expected to be available for purchase later in 2023 and into early 2024.

“Fort Bend County continues to be a very popular destination for homeowners,” John Brian, east region president of Starwood Land, said in a statement. “Starbridge will include many of Houston’s top homebuilders, a variety of family-oriented amenities and a well-planned community design. Land Tejas has developed some of Houston’s finest communities, and Starbridge will continue that legacy.”

On HoustonChronicle.com: What are Houston homes worth now? We break down the data.

Land Tejas is developing the roads, utilities and other infrastructure on the site over the next several months, with the goal of turning over the first phase of developed lots to homebuilders early next year. Starwood said the project is in its early phases and it has yet to announce homebuilders or settle on floor plans and prices.

Starwood Land has developed more than 90 communities in 10 states, including Harper’s Preserve in Montgomery County north of Houston. Starwood acquired the land in Beasley about 18 months ago and it is financing for the development of Starbridge.

Starbridge will add more homes to a county in the middle of a residential real estate development boom. The county’s population soared nearly 47 percent in the past decade, hitting an estimated 858,527 residents by July 2021, according to the Census Bureau. Officials in Fort Bend County expect the county’s population to eclipse 1.1 million residents by 2030, reaching 1.44 million residents by 2050, according to estimates by Woods & Poole, a demographic data consultancy in Washington.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston’s suburbs used to be a place to go for affordable homes. Not anymore, data suggests.

Real estate developers have taken note of the population projections. In Richmond, near the center of the county, Johnson Development earlier this year said would add some 117 acres to accommodate more homes in its master-planned community Candela, as well as adding several hundred home sites to its Harvest Green community. Richmond also is where apartment developer Camden Property Trust has proposed a 16-acre build-to-rent single-family home community near the master-planned communities of Aliana and Long Meadow Farms.

Elsewhere in Fort Bend County, Johnson Development also unveiled plans for a new 1,258-acre master-planned community in Fulshear. Separately The Signorelli Company has also proposed a 4,700-acre master-planned community, called Austin Point that could eventually encompass 14,000 single-family homes if fully built out.

The new developments come as the suburbs are increasingly losing ground on affordability, forcing more homebuyers to drive even farther out of the city metro to be able to afford homes, according to a recent study from Rice University’s the Kinder Institute, In Beasley — where Starbridge is planned — the typical home value is about $267,724, according to Zillow data. That’s more affordable than homes in pricier parts of Fort Bend County but still a 36 percent jump from a year ago, compared to a 23 percent increase in the Houston metropolitan area, according to Zillow.

Late last week, the Orlando Sentinel teamed up with two other news organizations to tell a jaw-dropping story:

Consultants who worked for Florida Power & Light had apparently been tailing and photographing a Jacksonville newspaper columnist who had written hard-hitting pieces about the company.

Now, FPL, as you may be aware, has been a bit of a bad-news buffet over the past couple years,

First came news of FPL dark-money payments to people connected with the state’s ghost-candidate scandal.

[ FPL’s dark-money games are backfiring | Commentary  ]

Then there was the revelation that FPL officials had written a new anti- residential solar energy bill — and cut checks to legislators who voted to approve it before the governor vetoed it.

But perhaps nowhere were the company’s moneyed interests more at stake than in Jacksonville, where the private company wanted to take over that city’s municipal utility. FPL execs salivated over that cash cow like Fred Flintstone did a bronto-steak.

But FPL had a problem. His name was Nate Monroe — a sharp-tongued columnist with The Florida Times-Union newspaper who was asking all sorts of tough questions.

Nate wrote pieces questioning whether Jacksonville customers and taxpayers would be better served by this for-profit corporation. He would later write about how consultants working for FPL had orchestrated a job offer for one of the Jacksonville City Council members opposed to FPL’s takeover.

Basically, Nate was a giant pain in FPL’s assets.

Well, records obtained by the Times-Union, Orlando Sentinel and the nonprofit climate-change news group Floodlight revealed that a consulting company working for FPL seemed to be tailing Nate — after hours and even when he left town on vacation.

[ Consultants for FPL covertly monitored journalist after critical coverage  ]

There was a photo that captured Nate, his wife and their dog outside their condo. Also a dossier that included his personal and confidential information, including his Social Security number.

What most caught my eyes, though, were text messages that appear to show someone tailing Nate when he was on vacation in Pensacola.

Records show someone from FPL’s contracted firm had seen Nate tweet about celebrating a football win with heavy drinking. So the firm sent a copy of the tweet to an FPL exec, who responded: “Awesome.”

The next text we saw from the firm was less peppy. It said: “He’s in an Uber” … followed by a frowny-face emoji.

I suppose we don’t know for sure what that meant. But it sure looks like the spies were disappointed Nate had done the responsible thing and called a car. Nate was out of sight and not endangering anyone’s life. So … frowny face.

FPL claims it never authorized any dirt-digging into any journalist. It has questioned whether the documents we obtained are all authentic. (The firm’s founder confirmed the authenticity.) It says the former firm owner can’t be trusted and neither can the Times-Union nor the Orlando Sentinel.

But someone was spying on the Jacksonville newspaper columnist who was had written hard-hitting pieces about FPL.

The photo of Nate, his wife and their dog was dated Oct. 14, 2020 — 12 days after FPL authored an op-ed in the Times-Union complaining about Nate and “ignorant and careless reporting.”

Records show another email sent to FPL contained an extensive background report on Monroe along with this observation: “Shocker he is a Democrat and completely boring.”

Darn it all, again. No salacious criminal past. Just a journalist gathering facts, telling stories and trying to look out for taxpayers.

As my own wife read that part of the story about Nate — where operatives were digging for dirt on him — she was reminded of a story in our own backyard. When we learned Joel Greenberg, the disgraced and indicted tax collector from Seminole County, had improperly used a confidential law-enforcement database to run checks on the two of us.

[ From Britney Spears to political rivals, Joel Greenberg searched scores of names on confidential database  ]

I’d been writing columns critical of Greenberg long before the feds handed down any indictments. How disappointed Joel must’ve been to find a 15-year-old traffic ticket. So Joel just took to Twitter to fictionalize ugly accusations about me. Some of his cronies did the same.

This tactic is as old as sin. One person argues facts. The other side rebuts with personal attacks or lies.

Speaking of lies, FPL’s CEO told a whopper when the Sentinel and Times-Union interviewed him.

CEO Eric Silagy says Joe Perkins — the founder of the consulting firm FPL hired and the man who verified the authenticity of the documents — can’t be trusted, largely because Perkins was “a convicted felon.” Silagy called Perkins a felon three times.

Except he’s not. Perkins paid a civil fine decades ago, connected to some 1985 campaign donations. But there was no conviction.

This is important because FPL keeps claiming newspapers don’t get the facts right — and has repeatedly made not-so-veiled threats that they were ready and willing to sue us if we get anything wrong.

Yet it was Silagy who wrongly called this man a “convicted felon.”

At first, FPL denied Silagy did so. But when I sent the company a note, saying our reporters had it all on tape, Silagy wanted to talk.

In an interview Monday, Silagy admitted he had been wrong: “That was a mistake that I made. I should have been more careful in my words. I was thinking federal offense and used the word felony.”

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Silagy then went on to contend the newspapers are off-base in their reporting, that the consulting firm might’ve been tailing Monroe on behalf of another client, that FPL operates completely above-board and that no one should trust Perkins … the man FPL hired, mind you.

By the way, FPL launched a website earlier this year attacking another journalist — a veteran Miami Herald reporter who exposed the company’s lobbying activity.

Listen, newspapers aren’t perfect. But our staff works like hell to get all the facts. The newsrooms had these documents for weeks before they published anything, wanting to vet everything as much as possible and give FPL a chance to respond.

As for Nate, he says he’s as determined as ever to keep writing — and says the latest reports have rallied his readers as well.

“At every step of the way, our readers have been incredibly supportive of the Times-Union’s reporting efforts on JEA,” he said of the local utility. “I still get letters from readers who say they hate everything I’ve ever written — except those darn JEA columns.”

Keep ‘em coming, Nate.

smaxwell@orlandosentinel.com