Economics
The URSUS economics team advises a range of clients on the economic costs and benefits of investments – ranging from regeneration projects and programmes through to specific investments in environmental assets, green infrastructure and sustainable construction. In meeting clients’ needs for specialist economics advice, our team members’ work includes:
Ex ante economic appraisal of regeneration projects and programmes, in line with the HM Treasury ‘Green Book’, CLG’s ‘Assessing the Impacts of Spatial Interventions’ (the 3Rs) and EU Cost Benefit Guidance manuals, as appropriate.
Environmental economics: applying environmental valuation methodologies in the appraisal and assessment of environmental assets and estimating the contribution made by the environment to regional and local economies.
Economic development and regeneration: advice on integrating environmental improvements into local economic regeneration and community development strategies and programmes, including actions to reduce carbon emissions and environmental inequalities.
Economic appraisal and evaluation of investment in transport, utility and technology projects, including environmental technologies such as renewable energy and sustainable construction.
Economic impact assessment of projects and programmes.
Business plans: preparation of business plans for organisations involved in funding and delivering sustainable improvements and management of environmental assets.
Economics Team Case Studies:
Homes and Communities Agency Economics Panel.
English Partnerships Economics Panel: Undertaking ex ante economic appraisals for a range of investments and disposals by EP and its partners, typically to Treasury ‘Green Book’ requirements.
Feasibility Study for a capital grant scheme and support for renewable energy installations and energy efficiency improvements in businesses in the Rural Regeneration Zone of the West Midlands, involving extensive business consultation, assessment of renewable energy supply chains, appraisal of economic costs and benefits and assessment of carbon reduction effect, on behalf of Advantage West Midlands.
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Review of Employment Land Guidance: Developing ‘good practice guidance’ (subsequently published in PPS 4) for the assessment of needs and allocations of employment land by local authorities to better meet both the emerging requirements of employers and the aspirations to achieve more sustainable development.
Greenspace Management: Advice to the Land Restoration Trust and Ashford Borough Council on costs and funding options for managing greenspace associated with housing growth areas.
PruPIM: Economic advice on the development of a major housing scheme at Fareham and a major business park on the M25. This included developing the economic case for the proposed developments and making representations at the Examination in Public of the Regional Spatial Strategy.
Transport for London: Socio Economic Impact Assessment of West London Tram - revision of the Socio Economics report accompanying the Environmental Impact Assessment of the proposed 20km Shepherd’s Bush – Uxbridge tram line.
Northwest Development Agency: Economic appraisal of the proposed £30m Centre for Excellence in Accelerator Science at Daresbury Science Park. The project was approved for funding and, subsequently, we were retained to prepare a business plan to guide the future management of the science park’s operations.
Recent Economics Team Clients:
Advantage West Midlands
Ashford Borough Counci
East of England Development Agency
East Midlands Development Agency
English Partnerships (now part of the Homes & Communities Agency)
Environment Agency
Groundwork
Land Restoration Trust
ODPM (now Department of Communities and Local Government)
PruPIM
Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council
Northwest Development Agency
South East Regional Assembly
South West England Regional Development Agency
Walsall Borough Council
Welsh Assembly Government and
Private sector companies including developers and consultancy businesses.
URSUS Economics Contacts:
David Elliott
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Tel. 0780 261 0861
Stephen Owen
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Tel. 07720 416 356
