Planning

This is Gravity (TIGL) are pleased to share the announcement that Stuart Houlet MRTPI, Associate Director at PCL Planning has joined Gravity to provide a Head of Planning Services role, focussed on facilitating the delivery of the planning objectives for the Gravity Project and in particular supporting the implementation of the Gravity Local Development Order (LDO).

Stuart brings a wealth of experience following a successful 25-year planning and management career in local government, including substantial planning policy, development management and major project experience. He led Sedgemoor District Council’s Planning Team for 10 years as Development Manager and subsequently Assistant Director. Whilst at Sedgemoor he was the Council’s planning lead on both the Gravity and Hinkley Point C projects.

Working closely with Claire Pearce and the core Gravity team, Stuart will be responsible for a range of planning tasks including oversight for LDO compliance matters, preparation and co-ordination of compliance applications and providing advice on planning process and procedures.

Claire Pearce, Director of Planning and Economic Development commented “Personally and professionally I am delighted that Stuart is able to join us on the Gravity journey. His expertise and knowledge will be a key asset and his ability to engage with stakeholders and partners to address challenges and shape solutions’ is immensely valuable as we shift into delivery mode.“

Stuart Houlet advsied: “I am very excited to be able to support the Gravity team on such a significant project for the local area and wider UK and its clear transformational benefits in supporting clean and inclusive growth, decarbonisation and the climate change agenda. Having been involved in the site since 2007 in my previous Council role and seeing the project evolve, this is a fantastic opportunity to continue my involvement through its implementation and to support its delivery.  

Gravity welcomes the recognition of the use of a Local Development Order (LDO) to regenerate and transform brownfield sites in The Rt Hon Micheal Gove’s MP ‘Falling back in love with the future’ speech on the new national planning policy framework.

The speech highlighted the significance and underutilisation of the LDO as a dynamic planning mechanism to facilitate up-front planning permission to attract large-scale international investment and deliver positive change for communities. The Gravity LDO, adopted by Somerset Council, being singled out in the speech delivered at the RIBA.

The Gravity LDO consent comprises 1.1 million square metres of commercial floorspace, up to 750 homes, creating up to 7,500 jobs, regenerating a brownfield site and facilitating a new era of clean industrial growth.

Gravity’s Director – Planning & Economic Development, Claire Pearce, commented: “Recognition from the UK Government on the importance of the LDO as a transformation tool is welcome. We are proud of the work we have done to advance the LDO as a simplified planning tool aligned with the enterprise zone, to regenerate an extensive brownfield site and market the site to international investors. Gravity offers a progressive blueprint to shape clean growth solutions within a global marketplace, accelerate economic restructuring and create training and employment opportunities for host communities.”

The full speech can be read here.

About Gravity

Gravity will be the UK’s first commercial smart campus and a blueprint for a ‘cleaner’, smarter future. It aims to attract the world’s most innovative companies working in the ‘clean growth’ sectors.

Expected to create up to 7,500 jobs, the 616-acre Enterprise Zone will be designed to shape connections between people and the places they work, supporting a culture of innovation and wellbeing. It will include diverse, flexible workspaces and resilient technologies along with enhanced transport links to, and within, the surrounding area.