Halcrow is a very distinctive consultancy. We provide a complete multi-disciplinary service, which includes planning, environmental, transportation and engineering expertise in support of major transportation, development, infrastructure and research projects. However the UK planning teams, are increasingly also providing a service for individual private clients and local planning authorities on one off, short-term commissions or as retained advisers.
The two areas of work are not always easy to reconcile. The skills required to manage or contribute to a year long Multi-Modal study, for example, are completely different to those required to carry out an urban capacity study, undertake a strategic environmental assessment of a local plan, or deal with an application, or appeal, on behalf of a private sector client.
The planning market for consultancies is ever-changing and we have to constantly seek out new areas of work and try to build relationships with new clients and partners. It is essential, therefore to be able to maintain a 'critical mass' of consultants and skills within the company which enable the full range of planning services to be provided.
Halcrow has four very good teams, based in London, Edinburgh, Swindon and Birmingham. My colleagues Rick Finc (Edinburgh), Reuben Bellamy (Birmingham) and Roger Prescott (Swindon) manage their respective teams. This geographic spread and ability to provide a broad range of consultancy services should stand us in good stead for the future. It also means that we can apply the knowledge and expertise built up through major research and infrastructure projects for the benefit of individual private clients throughout the UK.
We have established four centres of excellence, which can deal with any planning issues thrown at them. We ensure that the planning stage of a project is the lever to get things done, and bring in other skills such as engineering, environmental assessment, or business funding, as and when necessary.
Halcrow planning teams can offer a client a number of key skills and qualities:
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a high level of professional and technical expertise |
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a wide range of planning skills and experience |
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integrity and honesty |
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a partnership approach to working with the client |
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commitment and enthusiasm |
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well-honed project management skills |
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access to other disciplines and project delivery skills within Halcrow |
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links with external partners when necessary |
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international experience and expertise |
Clients do, of course, want to know what our focus or particular market specialisms are, to help them make their choice of consultancy.
As examples, the London office is dealing currently with a very broad range of projects. These include the Ashford Sub-Regional Study; Urban Capacity studies for a number of local planning authorities in Colchester, Chelmsford, Braintree, North Hertfordshire, and Tendring; a major regeneration exercise involving the assessment of options and the eventual master planning of the Port of Sunderland; feasibility work to underpin a South-Coast multi-modal study and a potential new canal from Milton Keynes to Bedford; as well as major planning application work at Chelsea Bridge Wharf in London for Berkeley Homes.
The Birmingham office are undertaking work on a new settlement near Lichfield, an urban capacity study for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, and several projects related to the development of new hospital facilities. At Alvechurch our team successfully obtained planning permission for a small housing development and church extension in the green belt and at Bromsgrove we have reviewed the implications of implementing the A38 High Tech corridor policy.
In Swindon we are undertaking an economic appraisal of Teignmouth and assisting with the environmental appraisal of Stonehenge and the regeneration of Brighton West Pier.
The Edinburgh office are involved in producing a master plan for the South East Wedge in Edinburgh, developing an access strategy for Glasgow, undertaking the regeneration of a former fabrication yard at Arnish, Stornoway and the economic appraisal of sites in North Edinburgh, Newcastle and the Cromarty Firth. In Stockton we are preparing a visioning study for the town.
Having worked in senior positions in a number of local authorities, we have experienced the client/consultant relationship from all sides. We believe that whatever type of project is involved, there are a number of constants that should apply:
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Halcrow treats each project as if it is our company's own proposal. We have to be able to respond quickly to a client and to give them priority when that is needed, regardless of the financial value of that work to the company. |
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Halcrow treat each project as if it is our company's own proposal. We have to be able to respond quickly to a client and to give them priority when that is needed, regardless of the financial value of that work to the company. |
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we always prefer to have an informal relationship, and a pro-active dialogue; essentially, a partnership approach to our working relationship with a client. This will ensure, as far as possible, that the project is successful. |
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we are honest with a client. Halcrow believes that it is important to advise them what obstacles might arise and if what they wish to do is unlikely to succeed. To be able to talk freely and openly to a client, and not feel that we have to hold back for fear of upset. After all, the client is paying for our professional services, however, unpalatable or unwelcome that advice might be to them. |
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Halcrow provides a high level of professional and technical expertise and analysis. We are in a very competitive market and are well aware that if a customer is not satisfied with our services, they can quite easily go elsewhere. |
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Halcrow ensures that the finances that have been agreed to enable a project to be undertaken are regularly reviewed, and transparently managed. |
In short, we are accountable for the quality of our work and for the practical delivery and management of the project. These constants cannot be avoided.
Halcrow offer clients a fresh approach to planning commissions:
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A partnership approach to working with the client |
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Practical and sustainable solutions to be applied wherever possible |
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Innovation in our methodologies and approaches |
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Good value for money |
Teams are small and always organised to serve the project and not the other way round. This emphasis on project management instils ownership, and is vital if complex planning projects and feasibility studies are to be taken to a successful conclusion.
It will be interesting to see over the next few years how many planning consultants either merge or are absorbed into larger organisations, in order to try to offer the whole range of services as a UK wide, integrated multi-disciplinary package. That process has already begun since last year as many people have already noted.
However such changes are not easy to get right. If you can keep your teams together in small, but well-focused units, even within a large organisation, and give the individuals in those teams good career prospects and project management experience then you are more likely to succeed in the long run in our view.
Halcrow is well positioned to take up the challenge of the new companies that are emerging, but consulting is a demanding, costly and time consuming business to be in.
There are no short cuts, and clients expect an ever improving and cost-effective service from us. Our expectation at Halcrow is that any new client will find out that we can provide them with just such a service. The true test will be when they come back again!
Peter Goggs
UK Market Sector Director
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