The very specific property requirements of these initiatives,
why we will need the properties
& how we will use them
The properties we will require to execute the proposed initiatives successfully are:
A combined HQ building in London
A rural estate & country house away from London
Development of a colloquium facility on the estate
Development of a participant accommodation facility on the estate
A London apartment for a director with restricted capacity to travel
Why do we need to acquire these properties?
There are two essential reasons for seeking, in our subsequent proposal, sufficient funding to acquire properties
(a) Financial management
The implications of funding properties required to execute the proposed initiative from cash flow are enormous. While the operating companies will, after a start-up phase (which will also need to be capitalised), need to be self-funding, the additional burden of the expense of premises on cash-flow would weaken the viability of the businesses considerably.
(b) Operational control
Although the properties will be owned by company vehicles separately from the operating businesses, the constitutional purposes of those vehicles will include support for the purposes for which the operating companies will be established. This will make operational decision-making on use and alteration of the buildings considerably simpler.
A combined HQ building in London
A London headquarters facility to house the think & act tank and commercial initiatives, proximate to the Westminster parliamentary quarter. This will facilitate maximum coordination of agenda-setting, content development and messaging between the businesses.
We have identified a potentially suitable buildinng in the Victoria area of London, Partnership House. This has recently been marketed for sale at £46+ million. However, planning permission has recently been granted for substantial renovation, suggested a sale is no longer sought by its owners.
The judgment of possible suitability of this building is based on:
its location, very close to Victoria Station, offering proximity to Westminster (for TV studio facilities) and excellent transport links;
Its presence, making it an ideal educational campus for the limited use ProSPEc would make of lecturing and seminar facilities in London;
Its scale, which would accommodate all the proposed commercial activities in a single location, improving coordination; also providing space for studios, a small lecture hall and seminar spaces.
The headquarters facilities will be owned by a not-for-profit vehicle that will aim to cover full on-going costs including maintenance and development.
Partnership House, the John Lewis Partnership HQ in Carlisle Place, Victoria, central London (37,460 sq ft),
Potentially ideal for our purposes. Marketed for offers in excess of £46 million in July 2025
A country estate
The country estate will provide a draw for participants in policy colloquia that will be convened at the estate by Futuresphere, making full use of the additional facilities we proposed to develop, described below.
The country estate will seek to create a permanent 'Davos in the Cotswolds' or 'Davos in Devon' (or wherever it ends up being located). The aim will be to create a venue (much like Chatham House) that becomes identified with a particular style of event — in this instance, multi-day policy colloquiua
The estate will need to be sufficiently close to mainline public routes to allow relatively easy access, and sufficiently remote for colloquia participants to feel as through they have gotten away from the hustle and bustle of the rroles
A facility of a high standard with visual appeal will contribute to participants’ enthusiasm and enjoyment of colloquia. The estate selected will have suitable entertaining and dining facilities for more formal occasions with leading contributors, sponsors and other funders.
Additionally, an attractive country house would enable the facilities to be used as a high-end wedding venue to supplement income.
The chosen location will also need have local planning rules and processes conducive to the planned development described below.
Binghams Melcombe, near Dorchester, Dorset. Grade I listed manor house, set on an estate of 116.14 acres (47 hectares). Additonal facilities include a church in public use (with rights of access for services).
Transport includes train services at Sherborne 16 miles away (to London Waterloo in 2 1/4 hours).
While this property is potentially ideal, it lies within the Dorset Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) making planning permission for additional facilities problematic.
Presently on the market at £7,650,000.
Colloquium facilities
The multi-purpose colloquium, conference, seminar, teaching, exhibition, performance and research facility will be designed as a destination for Futuresphere to convene policy colloquia. This facility is the principal purpose for establishing the country estate.
Futuresphere will use these colloquiua to build collaborative policy proposals and coalitions for action to influence policy agenda-setting and policy research & development within departments, encouraging government to bring forward coherent policies that are consistent with an open, liberal democratic society. Participants will include invited academic experts, interested groups, policy-makers and influencers, 'think-tankers', business-people and topic experts from the business world, journalists, and representatives of civil society groups can gather for informed and serious debate. This debate which can be captured and subsequently presented both as coalesced policy consensus for presentation to politicians and government and as material for training the next generation of policy influencers and policy-makers via ProSPEc.
Multi-purpose design will also support its use for periodic teaching seminars by ProSPEc and well as for exhibitions and as an arts rehearsal and performance space. With some outdoor entertaining space, it could also be used an arts festival destination.
The estate and colloquium facility will be owned by a charitable trust to be established for the purpose. Alternative uses will support its charitable status.
A part of this appeal to Open Society Foundations for funding to formulate the full proposal is a provision for development of preliminary drawings and designs for a suitable, multi-purpose facility for colloquia.
built examples showing possible styles of facilities
Accommodation facilities
To enable multi-day events, a hotel-style accommodation facility will also be required. This will offer individual room accommodation suitable for business class use for participants in any of the events organised at the estate.
The accommodation facility will include refactory, restaurant, cafe and recreational facilities consistent with the existing facilities of the estate.
By making the facility a business-class standard, it will also be able to used commercially as both a remote corporate event centre and as a large wedding venue, diversifying its income potential.
A part of this appeal to Open Society Foundations for funding to formulate the full proposal is a provision for development of preliminary drawings and designs for a suitable, accommodation facility to complement the colloquium facility.
built examples showing possible styles of facilities
A London apartment
A London apartment will be necessary to provide accommodation in London for one of the principals of this proposal who resides in Leicestershre and, resulting from a serious health event is 2018, suffers from multiple incapacities, causing considerable difficulties with travel. The apartment will also need to be able to accommodate his carer. His active involvement in planning and executing the initiatives outlined is considered essential to their success.
The apartment will need to be proximate to the headquarters (or principal office) to minimise the physical burden of travel within London.