Middlesbrough Development Corporation contracts out planning …
The new Middlesbrough Development Corporation (MDC) has dispensed with the town’s in-house planning department and will spend £1mn a year on transferring the planning department role for its territory to Lichfields, according to Teesside Live[1].
It is hoped the costs will be retrieved by income from planning application fees.
The area covered by the MDC comprises Middlesbrough town centre, Gresham, Middlehaven and the streets around the train station.
Lichfields
Although based in Newcastle, Lichfields have an extensive acquaintance with the Tees Valley. They currently hold three contracts with Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA), worth a total of £1,190,000.
Lichfields act as planning agents for TVCA and has supported the authority in some 108 planning applications to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council[2].
The TVCA applications are for demolition, remediation, or construction in the regeneration of the old SSI steelworks. The 2,600-acre expanse of contaminated land will be home to the largest brownfield regeneration project in Europe. It will be at the heart of Teesside Freeport, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s flagship freeport project.
Lichfield’s role for the TVCA includes writing the applications and contracting consultants for specialist reports.
An historical Lichfields connection to Teesworks is Chris Harrison[3]. Through his stake in Northern Land Management, Mr Harrison holds 6.3% of Teesworks Ltd, the 90% – private joint venture with the TVCA’s South Tees Development Corporation.
He was a chartered planner at Lichfields from 2000 to 2014, working his way up to Senior Associate Director. He is also a director in four other companies controlled by Teesworks Ltd’s co-owners Martin Corney and Ian Waller
At Theakston Land Ltd, where Corney and Waller are co-owners, Harrison is a director and has held a 14% stake since 2015.
Theakstons is the trading brand of a number of companies operated by Corney and Waller. The developers are the drivers behind the proposed Skerningham Garden Village[4] in north Darlington. Its project prospectus was produced by Lichfields.
Lichfields is the trading name of Nathaniel Litchfield and Partners Ltd. Its ownership is opaque. David Cameron’s government introduced regulations concerning Persons with Significant Control. Companies must now declare the controlling interest in their firm.
The Person with Significant Control as reported to Companies House is Nathaniel Lichfield Trust Ltd . The Trust is controlled by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners. So Lichfields effectively owns itself[5].
Lichfields’ contract with the MDC will be as planning officers, administering planning applications.
The switch from poacher to gamekeeper is a rare opportunity and according to Teesside Live, Lichfields’ was the only bid[6]. MDC sent out its tender to eight suppliers in line with regulations. One candidate opted out and six did not respond. Perhaps rare, but not the only planning support role for Lichfields. Planning powers were conferred on Hartlepool Development Corporation in June and Lichfields has been contracted to provide its day-to-day planning services
References
- ^ Teesside Live (www.gazettelive.co.uk)
- ^ to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council (planning.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk)
- ^ Chris Harrison (northeastbylines.co.uk)
- ^ Skerningham Garden Village (northeastbylines.co.uk)
- ^ Lichfields effectively owns itself (northeastbylines.co.uk)
- ^ only bid (www.gazettelive.co.uk)