LexisNexis in partnership with Local Government Lawyer.

About this event

Regeneration and the local authority estate

Austerity, local government reorganisation, climate change and Covid have all radically changed local authorities’ requirements for the property they own. At the same time, the need for more housing and the regeneration of town centres is more pressing than ever. How can local authorities utilise their property and land estates to achieve these ends and what are the legal issues and barriers that they may encounter?

• Where are the regeneration opportunities arising from councils’ changing use of their own property?
• What are barriers to this use?
• What opportunities (or barriers) may be presented by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill?
• How will Sustainability/environmental/carbon neutral issues (e.g. renew or refurbish) need to be considered?
• What is the scope to use investment properties for regeneration?
• What effect might the proposed changes to the CPO regime have on regeneration projects?
• What changes to planning laws (e.g. converting council offices to residential) need to be considered?
• What effect might forthcoming changes to procurement have?
• How might changes to social housing regulation affect those councils that still own their own housing stock?

Speakers

Lee Pickett

Lee acts on large development and regeneration projects with particular emphasis on housing regeneration.

Lee is Joint Head of DWF's National Public Sector Real Estate Team and acts for Homes England, Welsh Government, Royal Borough of Greenwich, Westminster City Council, Advance Northumberland (a local authority delivery vehicle) and other local authorities such as Conwy County Borough Council, West Lindsey District Council and South Tyneside Council.

Rita Bange

Rita is a well-established and well-known local government governance and regeneration specialist. Having worked in house within local government at Staffordshire County Council, Westminster City Council and London Borough of Tower Hamlets, Rita has a unique insight and understanding of local government issues and is able to provide solutions-oriented advice and has a solid track record of delivery.

She was the national lead for housing and regeneration for Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) and was shortlisted for in-house solicitor of the year category at Law Society Awards 2021. Rita is also a member of the Law Society Property Section Committee.