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Stantec gives small businesses a step up in the South West

An affordable employment land policy will make it easier for small businesses to expand

10/21/2020 SOUTH WEST; UNITED KINGDOM TSX, NYSE:STN

Stantec and LHC Design have secured approval for a Local Development Order (LDO) for Somerset West and Taunton (SWT) Council to support the development of small scale employment space across the district.

The LDO, which received full council approval in September, will make it easier for small businesses in the region to set up or expand. Owners will no longer need to obtain full planning permission, allowing them to make savings in costs and time during this uncertain climate. The LDO will also allow small businesses to expand away from established centres so they can benefit from lower running costs and bring employment back into the community.

The LDO was developed in response to demand from small businesses to set up or expand their existing operations but it has become increasingly significant as the Council works to promote economic recovery from Covid-19.

“This is great news for local businesses in Somerset West and Taunton,” commented Mary Crew, Associate Planner, Stantec. “Not only does the LDO free small businesses from the traditional planning application process, it also gives them the opportunity to be responsive to the current situation. Covid-19 has made everyone reconsider their working environment; now small businesses can use this LDO to create or expand premises at home or nearby.”

Stantec has a strong relationship with SWT Council and identified the need for the LDO following completion of the Employment Land Review. Stantec has a compelling delivery record in the promotion and delivery of LDO’s which has also included the LDO for Nexus at Junction 25. Stantec led the preparation of the SWT LDO and worked closely with LHC Design, who prepared the accompanying Design Code which clarifies how to deliver high quality small-scale employment space appropriate to the specific site.

Cllr Mike Rigby, Executive Member for Planning and Transportation, said: “The LDO is a positive planning tool which will make it easier and faster to progress the appropriate development of small-scale employment space. It will help businesses to start up and expand according to the principles of sustainability - in the methods proposed for construction and landscaping of the buildings, and by encouraging employment uses close to where people live. The need for us to support business and encourage employment opportunities has never been more important. We want to help as many of our local businesses as possible to survive through these difficult times and to prosper as restrictions begin to ease.”

Amy Sanders, Associate at urban design consultancy, LHC Design, commented: “LHC is pleased to have worked with Stantec to deliver this LDO at a time when it is needed most. It will ensure that a high and consistent standard of design is delivered and allow small businesses to thrive in sustainable and safe working environments. It will give rise to great opportunities in the South West and is a model other local authorities could easily follow.”

About Stantec
Communities are fundamental. Whether around the corner or across the globe, they provide a foundation, a sense of place and of belonging. That's why at Stantec, we always design with community in mind.

We care about the communities we serve—because they're our communities too. This allows us to assess what's needed and connect our expertise, to appreciate nuances and envision what's never been considered, to bring together diverse perspectives so we can collaborate toward a shared success.

We're designers, engineers, scientists, and project managers, innovating together at the intersection of community, creativity, and client relationships. Balancing these priorities results in projects that advance the quality of life in communities across the globe.

Stantec trades on the TSX and the NYSE under the symbol STN. Visit us at stantec.com or find us on social media.

LHC Design
LHC is a multi-disciplinary company of architects, urban designers, landscape architects and graphic designers, based in Devon and Cornwall and working across the UK. Our urban designers provide an integrated approach to strategic visioning and regeneration, urban renewal, master planning and public realm design.

Media Contact                                               
Jody Prescott                                                             
Stantec Media Relations                               
Ph: (44) 1189-520670                                       
jody.prescott@stantec.com                           

Image credit: LHC Design

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