Top consultants appointed to council land framework

Barnsley council has appointed consultants to a framework which aims to enable public and charitable bodies to maximise the value of their surplus land and secure development potential.

Called Land Solve, the framework is designed to enable clients to access the technical expertise necessary to maximise the value of their assets without risking up front capital.

Firms appointed to the framework include Arcadis, T&T, Cornerstone Property Assets and Morgan Sindall Investments.

Barnsley council is the contracting authority, with property consultant NPS providing procurement services.

Mike Britch, managing director of NPS, said: “For local authorities working within a difficult financial context which is accentuated by ever increasing social pressures such as high demand on housing, care and school places, this new framework is a practical and cost-effective solution for helping to unlock the potential in surplus land assets.”

The framework includes Land Broker and Land Advisor services and will deliver support and advice to clients during project development phases from RIBA Stages 1-4.

They may also be used to provide services during and after the construction phase, including acting as the client’s agent and ensuring the project is built out to the agreed specification, programme and outcome.

The framework is set to be launched nationally in early 2017.

Tim Byles, CEO of Cornerstone Assets, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be appointed to the Land Solve framework as both an advisor and a broker. As the only firm to have this dual role, we look forward to bringing our experience to bear on the pressing challenges of maximising the latent value in surplus assets, and harnessing this to deliver much needed local services - be that in housing, healthcare or education.”