Our team is headed by Vince Sandwell, who has over 40 years experience in the field.
He is supported by professionally qualified individuals with a wide range of skills. This ensures the company can provide an innovative and holistic service. We work in both rural and urban contexts, across a range of sectors. We have a wide range of clients, and our depth of experience is best illustrated by the variety of projects we have undertaken.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
PLANNING &
REGENERATION
DEVELOPMENT
FEASIBILITY
EMPLOYMENT
LAND STUDIES
MASTERPLANNING /
PLACEMAKING
FUNDING
BID SUPPORT
PLANNING & REGENERATION
We have extensive expertise on planning matters, enabling us to advise on planning applications, design statements and development briefs, planning appeals and public inquiries. This covers both commercial and residential development.
BE Group advises and acts for a wide range of clients throughout the UK, including individuals, multinational companies, and the public sector.
DEVELOPMENT FEASIBILITY
We undertake a diverse range of development and delivery strategies and feasibility studies for both the public and private sectors.
Development and delivery strategies involve an assessment of market demand, social need and local competition. Feasibility studies are undertaken to inform the economic development of an area, regenerate a town centre or industrial estate, or to outline the way forward for an organisation and/or its assets.
For both types of work, qualitative and quantitative assessments are undertaken, providing the client with the complete picture. Studies can also include financial appraisals, and lead to business planning and marketing advice. Our client list includes Cheshire East, Chatsworth Settlement Trustees, Lancaster City Council and West Oxfordshire District Council.
EMPLOYMENT LAND STUDIES
We are a market leader in the appraisal of employment land and property markets. Work is primarily carried out for public sector organisations, and is undertaken to identify market failure or to assist in the preparation of planning documents, such as the Local Plan/ Local Development Plan, in line with Government policies and guidance.
These studies include significant primary research, including site assessments, stakeholder consultations, business surveys and business engagement. We have a wealth of experience in engaging with private and public sector stakeholders to understand local issues and opportunities for growth and have undertaken business surveys across the UK with a strong response rate.
Studies have been conducted at both sub-regional and local authority level; all over the UK. In the last twelve months clients have included Manchester City Council, Salford City Council, Gosport Borough Council, Fylde Coast Councils, Central Lancashire Councils and South Gloucestershire Councils.
MASTERPLANNING / PLACEMAKING
We have carried out a wide variety of masterplans and placemaking plans throughout the UK, covering town centres, business parks, residential areas, industrial estates, sports campuses, leisure attractions and creative maker spaces. These have formed the basis of successful funding bids, including Levelling Up Fund, Town Deal, Future High Street Fund and Transforming Towns.
Our experience with local residents and businesses ensures that we are well practiced in delivering community consultation in the form of questionnaires, focus groups, and public exhibitions.
Our outputs include insightful advice on delivering the proposed masterplan project through detailing key actions and tasks, including timing, resources and prioritisation.
Generally such work involves multi-disciplinary teams (including transport and environmental specialists, landscape designers, and architects) in order to provide a comprehensive service to the client. Some of our clients include Gwynedd Council, Pembrokeshire County Council, Mid Devon District Council, Cheshire East Council and Buckinghamshire Council.
FUNDING BID SUPPORT
We have successfully developed funding bids and applications on behalf of clients, in order to secure grants for a range of projects. This can build on previous masterplanning work we have undertaken, taking key regeneration projects forward or can be standalone applications. We can assess the key potential outputs of a project and support business case development for regeneration projects.
Our clients include local authorities and social enterprises in Pembrokeshire County Council, St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, Shropshire Council, Westmoreland and Furness Council and Scarborough Borough Council.
OUR TEAM
