English Partnerships (EP) has commissioned a review of brownfield land regeneration strategies across the European Union (EU).
The review is intended to help bring forward the creation of a European Regeneration Framework, and is being organised by EP for the Urban Policy International Division of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
It will be carried out by researchers from Sheffield Hallam University, Nottingham University and engineering/infrastructure consultant Parkman.
The review will examine EU countries’ legislation and policies on brownfield regeneration in a bid to assess which policies will be most effective in returning land to productive use.
Evidence will be taken from developers and investors, as well as experts on remediation, decontamination and regeneration.
CABERNET, the European Commission-sponsored regeneration ‘best practice’ network, will also give evidence.
Peter Hill, who is directing the study for EP, said: “One of the aims of the study is to examine issues relating to state aid.
“Recent reports commissioned by both the European Commission and the Local Government Association suggest that state aid rules can act as a constraint in the UK.
“This study will help us to assess whether or not this is the case in other European countries and to relate lessons learnt to practice in the UK.
“We will also be looking at how other EU member states provide subsidies or fiscal incentives within the existing state aid rules.”
He added that the review team wants to hear the views of developers, surveyors, engineers and other relevant professionals in the UK and elsewhere in the EU.
Interested parties should contact one of the following before September:
- Professor Paul Syms at Sheffield Hallam University: p.m.syms@shu.ac.uk
- Ceri Sansom at Parkman: cdsansom@parkman.co.uk
- Peter Hill at English Partnerships: peterhill@englishpartnerships.co.uk
Last month, deputy prime minister John Prescott confirmed that EP would be responsible for drafting and implementing a national brownfield strategy.
EGi News 07/08/02
