0835 Leisure Summer 08_aw.indd - HLL Humberts Leisure

Planning | Professionalism paysSkipsea Sands Holiday Park: Part of the Park Resorts Portfolio ReviewStrictly professionalHLL Humberts Leisure’s Director of Planning,Martin Taylor shows that planning complexitybrings the need for a professional approachHLL Humberts Leisure’s Planning team has continued to go fromstrength to strength. With the increasing complexity of makinga successful planning application or getting a site allocated fordevelopment, many clients are benefiting from HLL’s expertplanning professionals in trying to cut through the increasingbureaucracy and barriers to leisure development.During the later part of 2007 and into early 2008, HLL’s Planningteam undertook a complete portfolio review of the of 37 holiday parksites acquired by GI Partners for the new management team at ParkResorts. This review examined potential development opportunitiesin relation to existing planning policy, proposed policy, and previousplanning history.The review identified a considerable number of opportunities toenhance the value of the portfolio and we have now embarked ona structured programme to obtain site allocations and planningpermissions in support of a development programme for the estate.Similar portfolio reviews have also been completed for eightKingswood Educational and Activity Centres, and for eightracecourses belonging to Northern Racing. In each case we havebeen able to identify the planning prospects and future action tosecure value enhancing development. We have also underpinnedexisting values by forming a terrier of existing planning permissions.In terms of planning applications, timberlodges and wooden cabins have been theorder of the day.After lengthy negotiations with the local council we obtained planningconsent for 12 lodges on the Isle of Wight which are now beingdeveloped. We have had similar successes for lodge developments inDevon, Northumbria and West Sussex.38 Summer 2008