Tennis Court Need Assessment & Expert Witness
The Neeld
Client: Telford Homes
The Neeld Tennis Club is a private member's facility with three tennis courts in Hendon in North London. The site freehold had been purchased by a developer with a view to building residential property on the site. HLL Humberts Leisure Consulting was commissioned by the developer to undertake an assessment of all tennis courts within a three-mile radius to ascertain whether the proposed change of use would leave sufficient tennis facilities to satisfy the recreational needs and demands of the surrounding community. Our assessment involved an appraisal of current planning policy and the analysis of local court supply (both public and private), with particular attention to PPG17, Sport England and Lawn Tennis Association strategy documents. We are subsequently due to provide expert witness at the forthcoming planning inquiry held to consider an appeal against refusal of the planning application.
Planning Appraisal of Development Opportunities
Park Resorts Holiday Parks
Client: Park Resorts
Park Resorts have recently purchased the former Great British Holiday Parks (GBHP) portfolio which they are currently consolidating within the overall Park Resorts banding. The Company identified potential development opportunities at three of these former GBHP parks as well as at four of the original Park Resorts Parks. HLL Humberts Leisure was therefore commissioned to investigate these opportunities in more depth and to advise on the potential for development at each location. In our report we reviewed these opportunities in relation to the planning history and local planning policy at each park, and advised upon an appropriate strategy to maximise the development potential of each site. Park Resorts have commissioned architects to prepare plans for each of the development opportunities.
Hotel Market and Planning Policy Appraisal
Newquay
Client: Restormel Borough Council
Newquay is a popular major seaside resort in North Cornwall. However, in recent years the resort's hotels have come under severe pressure for redevelopment residential apartments. The local Chamber of Commerce were concerned that the loss of hotels could undermine the resort's economy, while the local planning authority was faced by a large number of planning applications for conversions. HLL Humberts Leisure Consulting were therefore commissioned to undertake a study of the Newquay hotel market to identify whether there was a surplus or undersupply of hotel accommodation, to consider the economic impact of the loss of that accommodation and to advise on appropriate planning policy for inclusion in the new Local Development Framework.
Bedford Rowing Lake
Bedford
Client: Bedfordshire County Council
Bedford is a major centre for rowing. However, the existing river has become congested and its use for rowing is threatened by the proposed Milton Keynes to Bedford canal. A consortium of local rowing clubs therefore submitted a planning application to develop a new rowing lake on land and lakes currently, formerly or with the potential for gravel extraction to the south east of Bedford. Humberts Leisure Consulting was asked to advise Bedfordshire County Council on the need for a rowing lake in this location and the planning context for the consideration of the proposals.
Hotel Market & Viability Appraisal and Expert Witness
Harrogate Spa Hotel
Client: Harrogate International Centre
Harrogate is one of England's major conference venues. However in recent years it has experienced a significant loss in hotel accommodation which is threatening to undermine the long term viability of the town to host major conferences. HLL Humberts Leisure Consulting was commissioned by the Harrogate International Centre to investigate the hotel market in Harrogate and to give evidence with regard to the viability of maintaining the Harrogate Spa in hotel use at a planning inquiry into its proposed change of use into housing.
Planning Appraisal & Valuation
Manor Farm, Lower Slaughter
Client: Von Essen Hotels Ltd
Von Essen own a small farm and former stables in the village of Lower Slaughter in the Cotswolds. The property was acquired when the company bought a nearby hotel within the village. HLL Humberts Leisure were asked to examine the potential development opportunities at the farm and to use this information to determine the value of the property. Accordingly we identified a number of opportunities to convert some of the older farm buildings into residential property where they were closest to the village, and some other opportunities to develop holiday property, combined with the retention of some stables, outside the defined village envelope. We used this information to advise the company on an appropriate planning strategy to maximise the potential value of the property.
Tourism Accommodation Market and Planning Policy Assessment
East Cambridgeshire District
Client: East Cambridgeshire District Council
HLL Humberts Leisure Consulting was commissioned to research the tourist accommodation market for serviced and non-serviced accommodation to identify future demand for tourist accommodation. Our appraisal looked at the future demand for hotels, guest houses, bed & breakfast, holiday homes, holiday lodges and caravan parks and whether the existing supply was sufficient to cater to existing and future requirements to support the local economy. We then used this analysis to advise upon the application of current planning policy in the Local Plan and the development of future policy in the forthcoming Local Development Framework.
Planning Appraisal, Application, Appeal & Expert Witness
Ravenswing Mobile Home Park, Aldermaston
Client: Haulfryn Park Homes
HLL Humberts Leisure was retained by Haulfryn in connection with a proposed purchase of Ravenswing Mobile Home Park. The Planning team was asked to advise upon the planning background and potential to expand and improve Park. We were subsequently asked to submit a planning application for the extension of the park onto an adjoining parcel of land know as Tullsfield Copse. Despite the submission of extensive evidence in support of the application, including a local housing needs assessment and detailed landscaping proposals, the application was refused. We are currently preparing a proof of evidence and will be providing expert witness at planning inquiry.
Holiday Park Market and Need Assessment
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park
Client: Rural Solutions
Whitecliff Bay Holiday Park is located at Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. Rural Solutions are providing planning and development advise to the holiday park and identified a number of possible development opportunities. HLL Humberts Leisure were commissioned by Rural Solutions to advise the Holiday Park on the changes taking place in the holiday parks market to support a planning application for the future development of the Park. This report examined both the local and national market demand of static holiday caravans as well as information on the evolution of such parks from their original "holiday camp" format.
Planning Application for Extension
Garden of England Home Park
Client: T Willet
The Garden of England Home Park is located at Harrietsham, near Maidstone, Kent. Our client has demand for additional homes and is keen to expand the park onto adjoining land. A previous application to extend the park was refused and dismissed at appeal. Nevertheless, our client was keen to try again, and we therefore advised the submission of an application to extend the park in a different direction which would not be visible from approach roads to the park. We also advised reducing the number of homes and preparing a stronger case on favour of the development.
Tourism Study Assessment
Duporth Holiday Village
Client: Restormel Borough Council
Duporth is a holiday chalet park near St. Austell in South Cornwall. The site is located within the development envelope of the settlement. Prospective developers had therefore sought the council's opinion on the redevelopment of the holiday village for residential use. In order to reach a decision, the council had asked the developers to prepare a draft development brief to illustrate an acceptable form of development and a tourism study to identify the impact of the loss of the holiday village on the local economy. HLL Humberts Leisure Consulting were subsequently commissioned by the council to provide an independent assessment of the Tourism Study undertaken by consultants acting on behalf of the developer. Although we found weaknesses with the developer's study, particularly the lack of any real economic impact study, we were able to fill some of these gaps and advise the council on the relative impact on the loss of the holiday village in relation to other new tourist developments and the county's tourism strategy.
Tourist Accommodation Viability Assessment
Woodcote Holiday Centre
Client: Anthony Greenwood Associates
Woodcote Holiday Centre is located at riding stables north of Littlehampton in West Sussex. Anthony Greenwood Associates are providing planning and development advise to the owners and asked HLL Humberts Leisure to advise upon the viability of the holiday centre to support a planning application for the change of use of the holiday chalets. Our report investigated both the local and national market for holiday lets and prepared a projected profit and loss account for the continued future operation of the centre as holiday lets based upon projected occupancy and rental figures drawn from this local market analysis.
Playing Fields Assessment & Expert Witness
Flamingo Park, Chislehurst
Client: Kemnal Manor Memorial Gardens
Flamingo Park is a 7.4 hectare private sports ground. Demand for pitches at the park has been in long-term decline, to the extent that now it is no longer a viable business proposition. Kemnal Manor Memorial Gardens Limited is therefore proposing to purchase the pitches. HLL Humberts Leisure Consulting was commissioned to undertake a playing fields assessment to ascertain whether this change of use would leave sufficient playing fields to satisfy the recreational needs of the surrounding community. Our assessment involved the appraisal of current planning policy and the analysis of local playing pitch supply, with particular regard to the Sport England Planning Pitch Strategy and the companion guide to PPG17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation. We subsequently provided expert witness to the planning inquiry held to consider an appeal against refusal of the planning application.