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A Year of change and progress at TRP

There’s a lot to reflect on as we head towards the Christmas break. It’s been another year of change, with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, another Christmas NPPF consultation, new towns and local government reform announced and the major upheaval caused by grid reform. It’s not been an easy time for those involved in delivering projects, be that slow decision-making, viability and deliverability for SME developers, or market uncertainty.

Despite industry-wide challenges, our team has continued to deliver fast, intelligent and innovative support for clients. The diversity of new work that our expert team are helping our clients with is fantastic as we head into 2026: a portfolio of hyperscale and edge data centres, onshore wind and renewables, EIA co-ordination, co-living and PBSA in London and beyond, site promotion, strategic land, viability and socioeconomics, as well as hearings and public inquiries. We touch on some of these here, in our new-look newsletter.

   

2025

Highlights of the Year

  • Our economists Dan and Rowan are establishing us as leaders in economic analysis to support planning applications, working across all of our sectors carrying out socioeconomic impact assessments in the renewables sector, providing key commercial needs analysis for data centres and student living schemes and advising on viability constraints in the housing sector amongst others.
  • We now have an office in Manchester. Come and visit us at One Silk Street, Ancoats.
  • Our Edinburgh office led by our Planning Director Stefano Smith FRTPI FRSA is progressing a range of exciting projects across Scotland including:
     
    • Energy/renewables/infrastructure-related including an active travel National development in Fife; 
    • Housing developments for national and SME house-builders; 
    • Site promotions through the new emerging LDP process; 
    • Strategic land incorporating the increasing importance of co-location of development; 
    • Research including affordable housing research
    • Planning appeals including success for short-term let in Edinburgh, for private, public and third sector clients.

  • A well-attended and informed Scotland Business Roundtable to discuss energy/infrastructure and renewables and the impact on strategic development and spatial planning.
  • A fantastic breakfast session with Town Legal at UKREiiF. • A lot of planning consents across our sectors.
  • The onward march of technology is creating game changing opportunities for us and our clients. We have invested in a Technology Lead and we’re using AI to automate processes that are already delivering speedier planning submissions.
  • Forging of partnerships that are enabling us to offer broader services to our clients on larger more complex projects.
  • Confirmation by the Planning Inspectorate that our framework for assessing technological and societal change, used in North Yorkshire, produces sound evidence and development plan policies.
  • Some incredibly well-deserved promotions.

Celebrating Team

We are delighted to share our recent internal promotions:

Congratulations to all, each team member has made an invaluable contribution to the business and in supporting our clients this year.

  • Sandy Scott – Associate Planner
  • Ben Murphy – Associate Planner
  • Andrew Dowell – Associate Director and People Lead
  • Josh Rogers – Town Planner and Technology Lead

   

Industry insight: loneliness and co-living

Loneliness is now a growing concern across UK cities, while traditional housing models struggle to meet changing needs. Co-living is emerging as a powerful alternative offering affordability, community and resilience. Our latest insight explores:

  • How co-living schemes are delivering measurable social impact
  • The value of shared spaces and curated community programming
  • Intergenerational living models
  • The need for updated planning policy to unlock co-living’s full potential.

For socio-economics enquiries, please contact our Economics and Social Impact Lead, Dan Hay.

TRP has successfully secured planning consent for multiple co-living schemes including in Brighton on behalf of Kosy Living and Watford, a 16-storey, 311 studio co-living residential scheme.


Read the full insight in our brand-new LinkedIn newsletter, 'Planning and Progress'.

Project Spotlight:  Watford co-living at Bridle Path

Watford Borough Council has resolved to approve the Bridle Path co-living redevelopment, subject to a Section 106 agreement. The scheme will:

  • Deliver high-quality, professionally managed studio accommodation
  • Provide extensive communal facilities and landscaped spaces
  • Support the town centre economy through well-located rental homes
  • Introduce a new co-living model to Watford’s housing mix. 
Key considerations at committee included design, landscape impact, workspace provision and tree loss. Approval signals Watford’s support for co-living where strong management and clear safeguards are in place.

   

Sector focus: data centres

Demand for data centres continues to rise, driven by AI, cloud computing and edge applications. With data centres now designated Critical National Infrastructure with strong planning policy support and AI Growth Zones accelerating consents, the sector is evolving rapidly. 


TRP is now advising on multiple data centre projects, building on our strengths in planning, environmental assessment, sustainability and heat networks need and socio-economic analysis. We are also helping developers and operators assess the suitability of a location for data centres using our bespoke feasibility locational demand tool. 


We published two thought pieces earlier this year:

Six Challenges and Opportunities for UK Data Centre Development.

The Business Case for Edge versus Hyperscale Data Centres.

These papers explore land–power–planning strategies, planning risk, energy pricing, heat recovery and emerging economic models. 

For copies or a discussion, connect with: Rob Shaw, Stefano Smith, Andrew Dowell, or Dan Hay.

   

Planning success: erection of a new house in the Cairngorms National Park at Coylumbridge, Aviemore

   

We have secured consent for a sensitively designed new dwelling within the Cairngorms National Park (ref. 25/02816/FUL).

Highlights include:

  • A high-quality, 1½-storey T-shaped home designed to integrate with its woodland setting
  • Robust arboricultural and ecological assessments
  • Strong mitigation and compensatory planting strategy
  • Safe access design and alignment with NPF4 and National Park LDP policies
  • Careful response to third-party concerns.

This project demonstrates the value of front-loaded technical work and a clear planning strategy in sensitive landscapes.

For more information, contact Planning Director and Scotland Lead, Stefano Smith FRTPI FRSA (Linkedin Link/ contact)

WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

Looking ahead to 2026

Thank you to all our clients and partners for your continued collaboration throughout 2025. We look forward to another successful year together in 2026 and to supporting new clients.


Wishing you a restful Christmas and a very happy New Year from everyone at TRP.

   

YOUR PARTNER FOR SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS
LinkedIn

Founder: Robert Shaw, Email address: findoutmore@thirdrevolutionprojects.co.uk, Phone: +44 (0) 204 603 6130, Address: Build Studios, 203 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7FR

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