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Sean

@urbandesigner

Planning & Design Director at Prime Land and Development Director at Elite Planning Formally working at UoM - Urban Design & Planning

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08.09.2024
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Latest posts by Sean @urbandesigner

SMEs have been hit hardest by some of the new regulations around nutrient neutrality and biodiversity net gain. They don't have the size and resilience to cope with big delays at planning, market downturn or contractors going out of business.

08.09.2025 21:49 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I think probably the worst time for small sites I can remember in the last 10 years

08.09.2025 17:26 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

This is not helpful framing. The large majority of UK homes were built by the private sector. We need them building more homes (alongside social housing), so that teens aren't having to sleep in parks.

05.02.2025 11:40 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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With a little thought we can make our existing built environments attractive, Biodiverse, inviting and something that deters antisocial behaviour hopefully. It's hard to graffiti on plants.

#bng

03.02.2025 15:23 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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New rail link, big tech sector β€” time to move to Milton Keynes? The city straddling the Oxford-Cambridge corridor believes its forward-looking ethos will draw skilled people from both university cities

The Sunday Times is rightβ€”Milton Keynes is one of the most exciting and innovative places in the Oxford-Cambridge Arc. A city built for growth, with the infrastructure, ambition, and economic strength to lead the UK’s next phase of development.

www.thetimes.com/business-mon...

02.02.2025 16:06 πŸ‘ 104 πŸ” 17 πŸ’¬ 11 πŸ“Œ 3

You haven't cited anything to support your position. I don't wish to waste any ore time but thank you for the engagement.

02.12.2024 18:29 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

You are a sensationalist who isn't bothered about actual data. Try using Google, not even interest groups have exaggerated information to the extent you have. Good day to you.

02.12.2024 11:53 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

@samuelstafford.bsky.social I thought it maybe of interest to you.

02.12.2024 11:41 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Simply incorrect

02.12.2024 11:40 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Sean Tofts BA MSc PGDip on LinkedIn: Briefing Paper: Building Habitats and Homes 🌿 Building Habitats & Homes: From Pain to Gain 🌿 πŸ“’ New Briefing Paper Alert! Our latest briefing paper dives into the critical flaws in the implementation…

🚨 New Briefing Paper: Critical flaws in Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) policy are harming small developers and housing delivery. Outdated data, administrative overload, and policy misalignment demand action.πŸ“’ Share to highlight the need for reform! #BNG #PlanningPolicy

www.linkedin.com/posts/seanto...

02.12.2024 11:34 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Not sure saying parasitic is helpful in any sense and you have ignored any points raised in relation to why supply is key. I don't think we need to continue the conversation. I know some landlords who do their very best to help people in need. Much more the councils they reside in.

28.11.2024 12:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

The emotive language used isn't helpful at all. If we had enough homes then the affordability would be addressed.

28.11.2024 11:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Agreed they should and Id like that too. I think you just have the wrong position on getting there.

28.11.2024 10:30 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

If they do sell, the renters with the least ability to buy have a smaller pool of properties which no one is moving out of because they have rent controls in place. In line with what Chris said I think the language 'rent control' sounds appealing at first but it doesn't consider the complex issues.

28.11.2024 10:06 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

So we restrict the amount of people who are landlords which has the consequence of producing supply of rentals which can only increase the cost of renting. And then put in rent controls which only favor those who already within rented properties, assuming the landlords don't sell.

28.11.2024 10:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0

What they can I imagine which is market rates.

28.11.2024 09:38 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Supply of rentals dictates rent prices. Have you looked into the outcomes of rent controls? They aren't all favourable that's for sure.

28.11.2024 09:24 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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Why Labour must continue to lead the YIMBY revolution 'The status quo is not neutral. Every day that we fail to build enough housing, we are choosing to deepen inequality and stifle opportunity.'

Our housing columnist @yimbychris.bsky.social argues that Labour must take a 'YIMBY' approach to fixing Britain's housing crisis.

27.11.2024 11:34 πŸ‘ 13 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for the suggestion. I think entry housing officer or planning roles might be a good avenue too.

25.11.2024 16:57 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Does anyone have any views on the best careers for relatively good starting pay and career progression? My partner wants to find a role and I honestly don't know what I would do if I wasnt working in the built environment!

They don't have any specific qualifications but are very bright 😊

25.11.2024 14:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Brownfield Development Survey Thank you for participating in this important survey. Your responses will help identify both challenges and opportunities in implementing Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), particularly on brownfield sites....

#bng I am working with ecologists to offer #MHCLG #DEFRA AND #naturalengland a better insight to the challenges of BNG currently and the metric. Please give your feedback of you have any experience of the subject.

forms.gle/tVRobFmq5PwA...

20.11.2024 13:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Room To Grow - The missing Permitted Development Rights Policy Labour Need to Implement Now. Labour are set to miss their manifesto pledge and risk losing in the next election unless they take action now. Labour was voted in to a large extent on their promise to deliver 1.

We can't indeed but we also have a large portion of those working in the sector doing work to domestic homes.

Time we open up delivering housing to a wider pool of entrants and put the equity back in the hands of every day people. www.linkedin.com/pulse/room-g...

18.11.2024 21:26 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I think the way BNG works now might be to not bother in many instances if you may want to make changes to anything in the future!

17.11.2024 20:08 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Room To Grow - The missing Permitted Development Rights Policy Labour Need to Implement Now. Labour are set to miss their manifesto pledge and risk losing in the next election unless they take action now. Labour was voted in to a large extent on their promise to deliver 1.

I wrote about the issues the government currently fave with housing delivery and offered a, in my view, pragmatic solution

Room To Grow - The missing Permitted Development Rights Policy Labour Need to Implement Now.
www.linkedin.com/pulse/room-g...

26.09.2024 21:56 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Sean Tofts BA MSc PGDip on LinkedIn: DEFRA Hedging Decisions: A Pragmatic Approach to Enhancing Biodiversity… Short thoughts on one area where some pragmatism is desperately needed from the new government.

First article in Linkedin deals with the issues currently faced with another formula that has been amended 4 times. Much more than the standard methodology which was claimed to be mutant. Big issue is this one is impeding development, not supporting it.
www.linkedin.com/posts/sean-t...

26.09.2024 06:54 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Fewer than one in five UK voters are β€˜hard nimbys’, finds survey Pro-building Labour group hopes study will spur on major planning reform and government drive to build 1.5m homes

Some interesting polling on attitudes to new house building.

48% of those aged over 65 weren’t convinced by a single argument for building new homes.

And we know that’s also the age group most likely to engage with the planning system.

www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

15.09.2024 18:29 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0