Call for "Estate Charter" to enable placemaking by London's new estates

Partner, Andrew Wilmot-Smith, explained: “Placemaking is more than delivering just homes; it is about putting in place the structures that protect long term amenity and value.

The traditional ‘great estates’ – for example Grosvenor and Howard de Walden are successful because they are more than just chunks of real estate.  They are communities with a clear brand and lifestyle identity.

However, London’s newest estates have more complex and fragmented ownership structures and tenures.

It is harder for their owners and managers to exert the same level of control within the current legal framework.  There are many legal devices, but they are cumbersome to put in place and operate.  It is time to simplify the process by which developers can put in place covenants to preserve the character of estates for the future.  I suggest a new approach – the estate charter. Developers wishing to use such a device would need to create a recognised governing entity and demonstrate a long-term commitment to the estate it has created.”