Local Delivery Vehicles (LDVs) are public-private partnership arrangements, mostly local authority-led, for delivering significant growth and development. LDVs take different forms and all have strong representations from public and private sectors and to varying degrees from the voluntary and community sector.

Purpose

The Local Government Association (2005) highlights the role and purpose of LDVs: to integrate the functions of central and local agencies, private and third sector delivery partners at local level, through formal and informal partnerships, and supported by government funding. In turn LDVs can provide direction, commitment and coherence to the delivery of large-scale social, environmental and economic improvement.

LDVs also have a variety of important roles including project management, developing infrastructure strategies and researching innovative new funding streams, such as the Housing Growth Fund and Community Infrastructure Fund.

Applications

Some LDVs have been established to build a new, vibrant city economy based on enterprise, culture, learning and commerce, such as Creative Sheffield. The form, function and complexity of LDVs vary and may have the following mandates:

• An economic role – overcome policy and investment failures by building markets
• A land value capture role – assembly land and capture development values
• A leadership role – foster a long-term plan and vision
• A governance and coordination role – facilitate practical co-ordination of a development strategy
• An implementation role – assemble dedicated and capable teams to focus on delivering a development strategy

LDVs can work in the following development contexts:

• Growth Areas – LDVs in growth areas are closely aligned with local authorities and are primarily concerned with delivering long-term funding for infrastructure and growth, such as Cambridgeshire Horizons.
• Regeneration Areas – LDVs in regeneration areas such as Urban Regeneration Companies (URCs), are partnership bodies led by local authorities, regional development agencies, English Partnerships (now HCA) and the private sector, and are primarily concerned with furthering urban regeneration through master-planning, site assembly and investment facilitations.

Background research and further advice

Local Government Association (LGA), The role of local delivery vehicles in creating
sustainable communities, 2005

Hackett, P., Town and Country Planning Tomorrow Series Paper 2. Local Delivery Vehicles – Talking Shops of Agents for Change?, TCPA, 2006

Further information on URCs and other similar delivery companies refer to Urban Regeneration Companies

Links to Case Studies

You can find case studies about existing LDVs in operation at Urban Regeneration Companies and the HCA’s Growth and Renewal web pages