The local authorities, politicians, councillors and companies whose partnerships caught the eye of this year’s judges
Cross River Partnership
This collaboration of 16 inner London Business Improvement Districts, central London local authorities, the GLA, Natural England and a host of occupiers has worked together to fund and install green infrastructure across London to bring the benefits of nature to the places where people live, work and play. In the four years to 31 March 2016, it has delivered 117 green infrastructure installations.
Place Partnership
A multi-agency joint property vehicle comprising Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority, Redditch Borough Council, Warwickshire Police, West Mercia Police, Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council. The partnership provides a shared property management service between the three councils and has enabled the co-location of two partners in a joint fire and police station. It forms part of the government’s One Public Estate programme.
New West End Company Property BID
This collection of policymakers, civic supporters, businesses, property developers and management groups worked together to get one of the UK’s first property owner BIDs instated. The new BID got an unprecedented 96% approval vote and will work to invest £16m into London’s West End, enabling it to retain its world-class status.
Crossrail
A train line that will not only reduce emissions but will open up more of London to more people and business. A huge (and pricey) collaboration between local authorities, the government, Transport for London, contractors and landowners.
Better Renting
Grainger, LaSalle Investment Management, Hermes Investment Management, Essential Land and Fizzy Living teamed up to ask government to exempt PRS from the extra 3% stamp duty being charged on buy-to-let investments. Former chancellor George Osborne had promised the tax would not apply to companies or funds owning more than 15 properties. The Better Renting for Britain open letter was sent to housing minister Brandon Lewis, who moved to a new role in prime minister Theresa May’s reshuffle of the Cabinet.
City of London/Wayleave
Connectivity is vital in real estate and tenants demand high-speed broadband. With numerous broadband infrastructure providers, and limitless landlords and tenants, there is no current mechanism for all these parties to agree ways to improve connectivity. The City of London Corporation teamed up with the DCMS, Mayor of London, telecoms operators and property owners to create a standard wayleave document. The City then worked with central London’s eight boroughs to further promote the new document.
HCA and Network Rail
The two government bodies have agreed to work together to release land that could lead to more than 10,000 new homes being built around railway stations across the country. Swindon, Taunton and York stations will be the first stations to undergo development. The pair will work with local authorities to bring the developments forward.
West Midlands Combined Authority
While we wait to see what prime minister May does for the Midlands Engine, there is no denying the renaissance Birmingham has been through and that is credit to West
Midlands’ local authorities – Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Solihull, Walsall and Wolverhampton – working together. The combined authority still has ambitious targets but it has done the groundwork.
Metro mayors and central government
It could be the collaboration that never happened. But if it does, there needs to be serious teamwork between those metro mayors who are more red than blue. There are already whisperings at Number 10 that the prime minister isn’t too keen on mayors such as Manchester’s Labour candidate Andy Burnham having too much clout.
For the second year in a row, a public body has been awarded Estates Gazette’s Collaborators Award. Click here to find out the winner.
- TECH TEAMS The top partnerships using technology to improve the built environment
- SOCIAL SUPERHEROES Working together need not only happen inside the workplace, as these collaborative efforts show
- REAL RELATIONSHIPS The joint efforts driving change in the property industry
- CREATIVE SPACES Collaborating to create the best places to live and work
