Welcome to our November newsletter. In this issue, we dive into the latest Planning & Infrastructure Bill updates, share insights on avoiding hidden site costs, spotlight new podcast episodes, and celebrate some fantastic team news. Plus we are looking ahead to what’s next, inviting you to our last webinar of the year. We hope you find these updates informative and inspiring as we work together toward smarter, sustainable development
Although the year is winding up, we’re not slowing down in sharing knowledge.
Our last webinar of the year will be hosted by our Head of Cost & Commercial, Ben Wakeling, focusing on strategies for Section 106 (S106) recovery, an area that can significantly affect development economics.
Date: Wednesday 10th December
Time: 12:30 – 13:00
Location: Online
This session will delve into how developers can navigate S106 obligations and crucially, reclaim or optimise costs where possible. We’d love for you to join us in exploring ways to help developers recover vital cash.
S106 obligations can tie up significant capital. This session will show developers how to identify unspent contributions, reduce unnecessary costs, and recover funds held by Local Authorities. In a challenging market, these insights can directly improve cashflow, viability and deliverability.
The Government’s Planning & Infrastructure Bill progressed this month, with several proposals that could significantly impact the development sector.
1. Modernising Planning Committees
A new national framework would standardise what is decided by officers vs. councillors. More routine applications would be delegated to planning officers, with only major or sensitive schemes going to committee. This aims to cut delays and create consistency across local authorities.
2. Planning Fee Reform
Local authorities would be able to set their own planning fees, up to full cost recovery. Higher, ring-fenced fees are intended to strengthen under-resourced planning teams and speed up application determination times.
If adopted, these changes could deliver a faster and more predictable planning process, with fewer political delays and better-resourced planning teams. We’ve also recommended further improvements to ensure the reforms drive real benefits for developers by reducing uncertainty, delays and carrying costs.
Catch-up on this month’s podcast episodes!
Our first podcast of the month was a great discussion on Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS), where Paul Coombs and Andrew Wilkinson explored the regulatory shifts, adoption challenges and why SuDS are quickly becoming essential for future-proofed development.
The second focused on the role of structural engineers and how they play a key part in reusing existing buildings, a theme gaining real momentum across the industry.
Have a watch to explore why adaptive reuse is increasingly the smarter, faster and more sustainable choice for many projects. The episode covers:
Carbon & Cost Savings – Learn how reuse avoids demolition, reduces the need for new materials and can shorten programmes.
Circular Economy in Practice – Hear how retaining structures dramatically cuts embodied carbon and aligns with IStructE climate principles.
Common Barriers & Solutions – Understand why many older buildings are more robust than expected and how they can meet modern standards.
Real Examples – See how offices, industrial units and mixed-use buildings have been successfully repurposed to deliver high-quality outcomes with lower environmental impact.
With rising carbon pressures, evolving regulation and growing investor demand for sustainable approaches, adaptive reuse offers genuine opportunities for both value elevation and carbon reduction. Many existing assets can be transformed rather than rebuilt, often delivering quicker, greener, more cost-effective results.
November has been an exciting month for our team, marked by growth and recognition within our ranks:
New Structures Director – Lee Bowers: We are thrilled to welcome Lee Bowers, who joined us this month as a Director of our Structural Engineering team. Based in Cambridgeshire, Lee is also heading up our new Cambridgeshire and East Anglia office. He brings over 18 years of design experience, strengthening our regional growth and ensuring we continue delivering top-tier structural solutions for our clients nationwide.
Jack Kenny wins CIBSE Award: A huge congratulations to Jack, Associate Director in our M&E Engineering team, for receiving a Certificate of Commendation for Services to the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE). His dedication to engineering excellence and innovation in building services has been rightly recognised by industry peers. We are proud of Jack’s achievement, highlighting the caliber of expertise we offer to our clients. His win is not just a personal milestone but a reflection of our commitment to leading the way in building services and sustainable design. Well done, Jack!
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter. We know how busy everyone gets as the year-end approaches (and festive parties begin!).
If you have questions or want to talk about an upcoming project, you can contact Rachel Appleby, our Group Business Director, via email at rachel.appleby@brookbanks.com, who will happily introduce you to any of our team.
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In this thought-provoking Podcast episode, hosted by Ben Wakeling, Rob Houlston, Structural Engineer and Shawn Galliers, Director of Sustainability, explores how structural engineering can play a pivotal role in the reuse of existing buildings, offering both sustainability and cost-efficiency benefits. Drawing parallels with other industries-like fashion, electronics, and automotives.
As the climate emergency intensifies, the role of structural engineers is evolving rapidly. No longer confined to ensuring buildings stand strong, today’s engineers are being called upon to help shape a low-carbon, sustainable future.
Developers often focus on design, budget and planning, but the ground underfoot can be a silent deal-breaker. In fact, it’s estimated that roughly 80% of construction problems arise from unexpected soil or rock conditions that proper investigation could have revealed.