Third Revolution have prepared a climate change strategy for a proposed new settlement around Cattal, between Harrogate and York, on behalf of Harrogate Borough Council. Working with Hive Land and Planning, the strategy will form part of a Development Plan Document to guide the development and help deliver the Borough’s Carbon Reduction Strategy target of a net zero carbon economy by 2038. 

The study focussed on four interrelated themes:

- Net zero carbon and active travel

- Net zero carbon energy supply and use

- Flexible living and working

- Climate resilience

The study explored the interaction between the drivers of climate change, technology, societal and economic change, and the resulting revolutions in net zero carbon movement, energy supply and use, flexible living and working and climate resilience. Researching these and hosting workshops with key stakeholders allowed the team to advise on spatial choices and identify the infrastructure needed in the decades to come. Outcomes included planning policies, a supporting evidence base and a suite of mechanisms to secure their delivery.

The world is undergoing dramatic change, and this demands new thinking about how large scale development is approached.  Third Revolution is leading the Sustainability and Future Thinking Strategy for a major new settlement West of Ifield, Crawley, on behalf of Homes England. 

The work underpins the site allocation and outline planning application for this 10,000-home development and provides the basis for delivering an exemplar sustainable development. 

The scheme will be built over several decades, and it is only by first understanding how society, environment and technologies are changing that it will be able to meet future needs and remain a place that people want to live and invest. In response, Third Revolution created a Future Thinking Conceptual Framework for the masterplan, infrastructure decisions, and sustainability strategy. It also informs Homes England’s delivery and governance decisions.

It is the culmination of our experience as town planners, strategists, and sustainability experts. Our innovative approach starts by using research and trends to demonstrate how major technological, environmental and societal drivers of change are transforming the way people are living, working, shopping, moving about, and the sorts of infrastructure needed to support this. Many transformations are becoming evident during the pandemic, such as flexible working, but reflect pre-existing trends, such as the zero-carbon transition and greater on-line retail. 

Working closely with the client and design team, we have applied this research to create a place specific framework for themes such as neighbourhood structure, housing types, environmental infrastructure, land uses, and the relationship between the new and existing communities.

Ultimately, the framework will help ensure the place is fit for the future, and is commercially viable, sustainable, and deliverable at pace.

The Growth Corridor is an alignment of the UK’s fastest growing and most productive towns and cities in the country. Third Revolution worked with LDA Design to comprehensively map the area’s scientific-based assets and business sectors. The study presented a vision for a local industrial strategy and will inform the investment and infrastructure needed to ensure the region can compete with science-based clusters around the world.

The report was commissioned by Central Bedfordshire Council, in partnership with the Growth Corridor Local Enterprise Partnerships (South East Midlands LEP, Oxfordshire LEP, Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership, and Buckinghamshire and Thames Valley LEP).

Rob Shaw led the evidence base for the Greater Cambridge and Peterborough (GCGP) economic strategy. This included a think piece intended to accompany the more quantitative economic and physical profile by considering a range of trends and drivers that are likely to influence the GCGP economic sectors, infrastructure and the way people live. These included technological, economic, environmental and social trends and drivers. 

The analysis did not attempt to quantify these, rather it sought to spot opportunities and risks that needed to be reflected in the economic strategy, its accompanying vision and priorities and point to where further evidence would be useful. Together with economic and physical profile, the work identified approaches to developing a more proactive, place-based industrial strategy.

Third Revolution were appointed by Central Bedfordshire Council to review current planning policy and guidance on renewable energy. The study, which forms part of the Local Plan review evidence base, identified omissions or areas in policy that require clarification, and made recommendations as to amendments and modifications to policy and guidance.

The review specifically considered three questions:

1. Whether policy for onshore wind was compliant with the 2015 Written Ministerial Statement, Housing White Paper and subsequent amendments to national guidance.

2. Whether policy for other technologies, in particular solar, was compliant with national policy.

3. Whether policy and guidance were fit for purpose in terms of what National Grid are anticipating and developers are likely to bring forward.