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LONDON, UK - 31 OCTOBER 2018: A low angle view of the scaffolding, cranes and construction works being carried out on the redevelopment of the iconic Battersea Power Station building in South West London.
Economic Development and Regeneration
We support developers with socio-economic advice through the planning process, and provide economic strategies on a range of policy topics.
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Experts in economic and social impact

Volterra’s team has unrivalled knowledge in assessing the economic and social impact of infrastructure and development, as well as the economic importance and potential of geographical areas. We are experienced in undertaking economic assessments of large and complex schemes across the UK. Major projects we have worked on include: Battersea Power Station, Olympia London, HS2, Heathrow expansion, London Resort, Crossrail.

Our experts are well versed in the planning application requirements for the property development market. As well as using statistical analysis, our techniques allow for input from market experts working on the ground to present a combined qualitative and quantitative approach to the economics of property development. We regularly work for developers in producing the socio-economic chapter of Environmental Statements, Economic Impact Assessments, Employment and Skills Strategies, Health Impact Assessments, Equality Impact Assessments and Regeneration Statements, supporting them at public inquiry when needed.

Public Sector Work

At Volterra we have a strong understanding of the link between developments and the wider economic and policy environment. We regularly work for public sector clients in producing strategic regeneration and inclusive economic growth strategies, as well as experience of more bespoke research projects such as understanding the challenge of addressing London’s housing crisis.

What We Deliver

Volterra is experienced in drafting:

  • Socio-Economic Chapters
  • Economic Impact Assessments
  • Economic and Regeneration Statements
  • Employment and Skills Strategies
  • Affordable Workspace Strategies
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Equality Impact Assessments
  • Health Impact Assessments (HIAs)
  • Open space Assessments
  • Social Infrastructure Assessments

     

Our Results...

Volterra has significant experience in providing robust outputs resulting in successful planning applications. We also provide support to S106 discussions, focusing on jobs, skills, workspace and social and community infrastructure aspects of negotiations.

case studies

I have worked with Ellie, Alex and the Volterra team several times over the years. They are professional, thorough and efficient, producing quality work which clearly and robustly estimates economic impacts. Their work was vital in us promoting the redevelopment of Olympia London, and ultimately securing planning permission.

Dominic Holmes, Director of Development, Yoo Capital

who we work with

Volterra advises on small to large schemes going through the standard planning process, through to Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs) going through the Development Consent Order (DCO) route. We provide Environmental Statement chapters, reports for submission alongside planning applications, evidence for public inquiry, and standalone economic impact reports for business developments.

view our case studies

some of our clients

hb reavis
yoo capital
grosvenor
Cadogan
Portman estate
NWEC
victoria bid
SBEG
CTU
BPS
Lendlease
olympia
the collective
elysian
london resort
urbanest
romulus
BNP
GLA
London First
TFL
city of westminster
surrey
Leeds
Wycombe council

case studies

Private Sector

Volterra regularly works with developers to understand the economic, social, health and equality impacts of development.

Our work covers all stages of development, through providing pre-application advice and inputting into EIA strategy, to drafting planning deliverables (ES chapters, economic statements etc) and post-submission support (such as understanding scheme contributions relating to healthcare provision, employment and skills, and affordable workspace).

We also work with companies, business improvement districts and business groups to understand their economic footprint, provide economic research and develop strategy.

Elizabeth House

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Battersea
Power Station

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London
Peninsula hotel

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London Resort

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MSG Sphere

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London Olympia

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case studies

Private Sector

Volterra regularly works with developers to understand the economic, social, health and equality impacts of development. Our work covers all stages of development, through providing pre-application advice and inputting into EIA strategy, to drafting planning deliverables (ES chapters, economic statements etc) and post-submission support (such as understanding scheme contributions relating to healthcare provision, employment and skills, and affordable workspace).

We also work with companies, business improvement districts and business groups to understand their economic footprint, provide economic research and develop strategy.

 

Battersea
Power Station

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London
Peninsula hotel

Find out more

London Resort

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London Olympia

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Public Sector

Volterra has significant experience working for the public sector. This work ranges from providing evidence base for policy, economic research underpinning strategy and social and economic analysis, or market feasibility studies for specific proposals. Some examples of our public sector work are provided here.

Surrey County Council asset & place strategy

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LEEDS
GROWTH STRATEGY​

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London First:
Future Need for
housing in the uk

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GLA employment forecasting

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Wycombe feasibility study

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Do you have a project
that we can help with?

get in touch

If we can help you make your development application stronger, contact Ellie Evans

Ellie Evans | Partner

t: +44 7385 807669

e: eevans@volterra.co.uk

Legals

ELIZABETH HOUSE

Volterra played a significant role in the pre-application and application process of the recently submitted proposals by HB Reavis to redevelop Elizabeth House, a large office-scheme next to Waterloo Station. During the pre-app stage Volterra led the negotiations with Lambeth on employment & skills and affordable workspace, and then produced an Economic Benefits Statement and Socio-Economic Chapter for application submission. Volterra also provided S106 support by calculating the quantum of financial contributions that the Applicant should be expected to make as part of the proposals.

DEVELOPER

HB Reavis

WORK COMPLETED

Economic Benefits Statement
Socio-Economic Chapter

OUTCOME

Successful application

BATTERSEA POWER STATION

Volterra has been responsible for the socio-economic chapter of the Environmental Statement, as well as preparing a stand-alone Health Impact Assessment and Open Space Strategy for the Battersea Power Station redevelopment. This is one of the largest development projects in London in recent years, and a key driver of attracting growth to the Victoria Nine Elms Battersea Opportunity Area.

Volterra’s work considers the likely social and economic impacts of the residential-led scheme which includes offices, retail and leisure, and a boutique hotel.

 

DEVELOPER

Battersea Power Station Development Company

WORK COMPLETED

Socio-economic Chapter
  Health Impact Assessment
Open Space Strategy

OUTCOME

Successful application

London Peninsula hotel

Volterra supported Grosvenor and HSH in their successful application for a Peninsula hotel and high-end residential units at 1-5 Grosvenor Place. This required making the case for the loss of existing office space in favour of a luxury hotel and residential units. The arguments therefore focused around the tourism benefits to London of the proposed luxury hotel along with the indirect benefits that high-end residential units can support within the local and wider area.

DEVELOPER

Grosvenor Group

WORK COMPLETED

Economic Impact Assessment

OUTCOME

Successful application

MSG SPHERE

Volterra recently supported Madison Square Garden’s proposal to build their first UK venue, MSG Sphere, next to Stratford station. The proposed development would use cutting edge technology to create Europe’s leading music venue. The proposed site is next to Westfield Stratford City in Newham and is within the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) area. Volterra is authoring the socio-economic chapter, employment & skills strategy (including associated S106 support), HIA and Convergence statement.

DEVELOPER

MSG Sphere London

WORK COMPLETED

Socio-economic chapter
Employment & skills strategy
S106 support
Health Impact Assessment
Convergence Statement.

OUTCOME

In progress

London Olympia

Volterra worked for Yoo Capital to understand the economic impacts of their proposals for redeveloping the Olympia Exhibition centre in West London. Our role involved analysing the economic impact, inputting into the business case and drafting the socio-economic chapter and HIA

DEVELOPER

Yoo Capital

WORK COMPLETED

Economic Impact Assessment
Business Case
Socio-economic Chapter
Health Impact Assessment

OUTCOME

Successful application

LONDON RESORT

Volterra is currently working for LRCH on a proposal for a major entertainment resort in North Kent, called London Resort. The proposal was the first commercial project to be granted NSIP (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) status by the Planning Inspectorate. The theme park resort is expected to attract up to 12.5 million visitors a year, bringing significant economic benefits to both the local and the national economy. Our work has involved researching other global theme parks that attract a similar magnitude of visitors in order to understand where visitors are likely to stay and the resulting economic impact on the local area. Volterra is authoring the socio-economic chapter, the HIA, the Employment and Skills Strategy, and the Accommodation Strategy.

DEVELOPER

LRCH

WORK COMPLETED

Socio-Economic Chapter HIA Employment & Skills Strategy Accommodation Strategy

OUTCOME

In progress

Asset Development Framework: Surrey

Volterra worked to design the strategy in which Surrey County Council could re-optimise the use of its assets and contribute to economic growth in Surrey. We also created a framework to consider the socio-economic benefits of development for non-operational assets held by the council. A significant proportion of this strategy included producing socio-economic impact appraisals on assets from a variety of different use classes, for a number of potential redevelopments that would be led by the council across Surrey.

CLIENT

Surrey County Council

WORK COMPLETED

Economic development
Regeneration strategy
Investment strategy
Economic Impact Assessment
Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA)

Leeds Growth Strategy

In 2017, Volterra produced the economic narrative for the Leeds Growth Strategy. The brief was a review of ‘the city’s strengths, weaknesses and future prospect to inform the Leeds Growth Strategy’. The aim was to present a coherent plan for economic growth in the city region between 2017 and 2020, with a focus on inclusive economic growth. We produced forecasts for employment and GVA, taking into account both the local context and wider exogenous impacts such as Brexit uncertainty, with our work adopted into the current growth strategy.

CLIENT

Leeds City Council

WORK COMPLETED

Economic growth strategy
Production of economic evidence base
Employment forecasting
Analysis of exogenous shocks

Future Need for Housing in the UK

In 2018, Volterra authored a report for London First. This report assessed the need for additional housing across England, with the spotlight placed on London, highlighting its acute housing shortage and lack of affordability. The aim of the report was to provide estimates of the scale of investment needed to meet government housing targets, and outline the choices facing government about how to bridge the existing funding gap. The report identified priority areas, within which the increased supply of housing was most needed. The report was well received publicly, highlighting that there are a range of investment interventions available to support housebuilding in the UK.

CLIENT

London First

WORK COMPLETED

Bespoke economic research report

outcome

Political influence
Media coverage

London Employment Projections

Volterra modelled long term employment projections for the GLA, which relate employment to output and allowed for trends towards increased productivity of the workforce. Using the model, we produced projections of employment levels in London over the next 30 years. Volterra has also provided the GLA with a short term forecasting model that forecasts both employment and output at a sectoral level. The model also provides a reversion forecast that would adjust to revert to the longer term trend. Both tools are continuously used the GLA to ensure their policies are well targeted.

CLIENT

Greater London Authority

WORK COMPLETED

Baseline profile analysis
Short term and long term economic/employment forecasting

Wycombe Regeneration

Volterra was commissioned by Wycombe District Council to lead a feasibility study on the potential for regeneration on a number of employment sites across the district. We worked closely with council officers and presented our findings to a multi-disciplinary group across various planning areas so as to ensure buy-in and consistency across the council.

CLIENT

Wycombe District Council

WORK COMPLETED

MCA on economic Impact Assessments of sites