Blog

Life expectancy and working age has been on the rise for the last 30 years in the UK.  While policy seems to be focussed on helping first time buyers access the housing market, evidence suggests that we are failing to plan effectively for the older members of our society.

The government do seem to be floating some ideas to help, for instance making pensioners exempt from stamp duty when downsizing to smaller homes, and we anticipate more relevant announcements in the Autumn Statement next week.

NJL Consulting, on behalf of Fylde Coast Academy Trust, last night gained a resolution to grant planning permission from Blackpool Planning Committee for a new academy school within Blackpool. The Armfield Academy will provide facilities for up to 1,280 pupils in nursery, primary and secondary education (ages 2-16 years).

In the past month NJL Consulting has secured reserved matters planning permission for over 400 new dwellings across the North West. Sites in Thornton, Hesketh Bank and Preston will now be brought forward by our clients, Persimmon Homes, Wainhomes and Pillars Construction with work due to start on the sites soon.  

News and results coming out of the first half of the 2017/18 financial year demonstrate the continued push of German convenience stores on the UK convenience goods market.  As Aldi and Lidl advance on displacing the UK ‘Top Four’ (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons), it is the former who has surpassed already confident revenue targets.

This morning Aldi reported revenues up 13.5% in FY16.  This surpasses optimistic targets envisaged by industry leaders.

Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Professionals’ Lunch on Thursday of last week (14^th September).  The afternoon of networking (and sushi!) at Australasia in Spinningfields was a great opportunity to catch up with friends from a range of multidisciplinary backgrounds, but also to meet new faces.

As our guests last week will be aware, NJL is sponsoring Forever Manchester as our chosen charity of the year.  Forever Manchester is a charity that funds and supports community activity across Greater Manchester. Since 1989 Forever Manchester has delivered over £36 million into local communities benefiting 1.1million people.

NJL is looking for a qualified Planner or Senior Planner to join its team in Manchester.  The candidate will be a key member of the mixed use and strategic projects team with the opportunity to work some of NJL’s most high profile and award winning projects.