PRD supported London Borough of Haringey to scope and examine strategic development options for its civic estate in Wood Green Metropolitan Centre.

The output of this work was a high-level options and viability report, which considered a number of predominantly civic sites that are owned or occupied by the Council (both individually and as a packaged solution), in order to identify options for re-providing civic accommodation that meets the Council's future needs.

A further priority was to scope and structure opportunities to generate income streams for the Council through the creation and divestment of surplus assets or newly packaged development opportunities; to commercial, institutional, or other markets.

A range of options were considered, including residential, commercial and mixed uses, which would generate income to cross-subsidise the re-provision of civic assets and would enable the Council to directly benefit from the value created by development.

The Council recognised that such actions could trigger significant and long-term regenerative benefits for Wood Green and a significant emphasis was placed on identifying strategic approaches that would maximise the contribution to local regeneration.

This included interventions that could be delivered in advance of development (e.g. the introduction of Meanwhile uses or the creation of a Business Improvement District) and interventions to secure local jobs, training and other economic opportunities from the approach to delivering development.

"PRD provided a consolidated overview of the Council’s policies and strategic objectives. Working collaboratively with a broad range of Council Officers, PRD developed a number of spatial and commercial strategies for the Council’s assets in Wood Green, which were designed to deliver holistic regeneration and encourage inward and co-investment in Wood Green Town Centre. Haringey now has a much clearer understanding of the potential of its assets and a clear plan for its key next steps to move forwards".

Lyn Garner, Director of Place and Sustainability, London Borough of Haringey