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Training Programmes

Events held at the Monkbar Hotel, York

Negotiation Skills: the key to achieving planning goals and objectives

Almost every day, planning, enforcement and other ‘environmental’ staff within local planning authorities engage in some form of negotiation. Often these negotiations, whether they are with developers, agents, the public or even their colleagues, are carried out without any clear understanding of the principles and techniques involved. Yet having an awareness of both principles and techniques, coupled with experience, can make a formidable difference to an officer’s effectiveness.  This workshop focuses on persuasion and influencing skills; when to negotiate and when not to; approaches to negotiation; “tricks” and techniques; power and the personality dimensions. The workshop combines theories with working references from the experience of participants.

For further details download a leaflet/booking form                Make a provisional booking on this workshop

Understanding Viability: key concepts in development economics for planners

In the current economic situation the need to be able to understand a development’s viability has become an important issue for planners. An understanding of viability can have a significant bearing on whether a development goes ahead and, if so, what benefits might accrue to the local community. This workshop is aimed at all local authority planning and development staff who are engaged in policy implementation and development management where the need to judge the viability of plans and projects is now vital. The workshop will be particularly relevant to staff who work with and negotiate with commercial developers to assess contributions under a planning agreement. As a result of taking part in the workshop, participants should be able to understand how developers approach financial appraisal; be able to assess in broad terms the viability of proposals; and appreciate the financial impact of conditions and planning agreements under consideration. The workshop will also review the negotiation positions typically adopted by developers and how to counter them through the planning process.  Use will be made of basic financial models including the layout of Excel spreadsheets and there will be a review of the available software packages.

For further details download a leaflet/booking form                Make a provisional booking on this workshop.

Sustainable Development by Design

This brand new workshop looks at how local authorities, local communities and developers can best introduce new technologies and approaches to aid sustainable development, whilst at the same time maintaining the design integrity and viability of the development in question. The workshop will explore different technologies and design approaches to sustainability in the context of their environmental benefit and impact. The workshop will help to answer the conundrum of integrating good design with environmental principles having regard to the current market and all the various pressures upon viability. The workshop will conclude with a look at the way in which careful design can help future proof developments so that as new sustainable technologies come along or become more affordable they can be fully utilised without compromising the overall design.

For further details download a leaflet/booking form (available soon)            Make a provisional booking on this workshop.