Arup offers integrated, holistic planning policy anaylsis and advice throughout the planning, sustainability, energy strategy, transport and urban design processes.
The firm assists clients by offering comprehensive analysis, evidence gathering and innovative policy options. This helps clients to understand existing policy and strategies and to develop new, evidence-based replacements.
Strategic planning
Arup offers strategic policy advice on regional, local and city-region development, housing and economic development, climate change and sustainable communities. The firm's clients include international agencies, UK Government departments, national government agencies, government bodies and partnerships at regional and city-region level, as well as local authorities and the private sector.
Arup's specialists provide support on:
- Regional and sub-regional/city region development, including governance and partnerships structures that offer clients new and integrated approaches to achieve agreed targets.
- Local Plans and Development Frameworks.
- Masterplanning and regeneration studies.
- Housing policy.
- Economic development policy.
- Links between economic development, housing, transport and environmental policies, including integrated regional strategies combining economic, environmental and other factors.
- Policy relating to infrastructure provision and funding.
- Rural development.
- Strategic policy advice to the private sector.
- Analysis of skills gaps in the sustainable communities professions.
Influencing policy changes for regional development
Arup's policy consulting work has shaped UK Government decisions. The firm's reports have influenced the UK Government's Sub National review of Economic Development and Regeneration.
The firm's work has also resulted in press coverage and policy changes on a range of topics. These have included the UK north-south divide, skills gaps in the sustainable communities professions, housing policy for the north of England, the future of England’s rural economy and the formation of the Homes and Communities Agency.
At a local and regional level, Arup's work includes advising regional government on locations for development, devising strategies for funding and developing spatial policy.
Addressing climate change
Advising on climate change mitigation and adaption, Arup, through its global network of offices, provides:
- An understanding of the challenges and skills needed to deliver a robust response to climate change.
- Assessment to identify areas at risk from climate change.
- Climate change analysis and economic analysis.
- Planning for new infrastructure and networks for distributed energy and transport.
- Masterplanning to achieve zero or minimal carbon footprint.
- Strategic advice for locating new development sites, areas and settlements.
- Research, analysis and policy preparation for policy documents at the national, regional, and local levels to inform and steer public authorities’ responses to climate change.
- Advice to the C40 group on climate change issues and on the preparation of climate change action plans.
As leaders in the development of policy and implementation, Arup advises clients on how to meet the challenges of planning for climate change. The firm’s collective knowledge of the challenges we face is bolstered by its global research programme and the wide range of technical and specialist services that it offers clients.