Economic Development Consultancy

HJA is a specialist economic development consultancy that advises public, private and third sector clients across the UK on a wide range of issues.

We provide consultancy advice and support throughout the UK on economic development, often at the interface between the public and private sectors. We help local authorities, government, communities, developers and businesses to plan for economic development and understand the socio-economic impacts of projects and programmes on areas and societies. Our work covers issues such as jobs, enterprise, investment, employment of local people, skills, productivity, energy, infrastructure, sites and premises.

Strategies & Evidence

We help planning authorities and other public bodies understand the state of their local economies.

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Socio-Economic Impact

We help landowners, developers, and the public sector make the economic case for and against site allocations and permissions.

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Business Cases & Funding

We help public and private sector organisations to define and develop projects to support economic growth.

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Clean Growth

We help public and private sector organisations understand the economic and social impacts of low carbon energy projects.

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We have worked with Hardisty Jones on a number of occasions and return to the agency due to their professionalism  and depth of subject knowledge.
Bea Symington
Business Officer, Bath & North East Somerset Council
Their technical work is always of the highest quality and on many occasions their outputs have been instrumental in the achievement of our client’s desired outcomes.
Neil Mantell
Director, LRM Planning
The depth of their expertise combined with their ability to naturally become part of the team and fully understand our needs led to high quality outputs meeting and exceeding our expectations.
Edita Adamicikova
Head of ESG, Viridor
Hardisty Jones Associates have an impressive ability to fully understand the needs of their client. High quality outputs to achieve desired outcomes is the experience enjoyed to date.
Sam Terrell
Principal Economic Growth Officer, Harlow & Gilston Garden Town
HJA are approachable, easy to work with, listen to the needs of the client, and maintained good client relationships communicating well at all stages of the project. 
Stuart Williams
Group Leader – Planning Policy, Cardiff Council
HJA are collaborative team members working well across disciplines with various consultants, taking their own initiative rather than waiting for direction to maximise the impact their research has.
Pete Brown
Director, Estrans Developments
Throughout the on going evaluation of Social Business Wales, Hardisty Jones Associates have provided on going guidance and positive challenge, with clear recommendations.
Glenn Bowen
Enterprise Programme Director, Social Business Wales

Projects

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Cambridge Discovery Campus: Socio-economic Impacts
HJA were commissioned by Bridgemere Land Ltd to support a planning application for a proposed innovation centre – the Cambridge Discovery Campus (CDC) – in Hauxton, South Cambridgeshire. Outline planning approval was granted in April 2024.

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Levelling Up Fund Round 2 Successful Bids
HJA supported two district councils in the preparation of successful bids for Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund in 2022.

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Delivery of Socio-Economic Impact Assessments: Cheltenham retail and mixed-use development
HJA supported a successful planning application for a food retail and mixed use development at Grovefield Way, Cheltenham through delivering a Socio-economic Impact Assessment. The Impact Assessment formed part of the development's wider Environmental Impact Assessment.

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Cambridge Discovery Campus: Socio-economic Impacts
HJA were commissioned by Bridgemere Land Ltd to support a planning application for a proposed innovation centre – the Cambridge Discovery Campus (CDC) – in Hauxton, South Cambridgeshire. Outline planning approval was granted in April 2024.

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Levelling Up Fund Round 2 Successful Bids
HJA supported two district councils in the preparation of successful bids for Round 2 of the Levelling Up Fund in 2022.

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About Us

HJA has been operating in the economic development industry since 2011, working for public, private and third sector clients across the UK on a range of economic development issues.

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Meet the Team

Our directors share over half a century of combined experience in the economic development industry, supported by a team of highly talented consultants and researchers.

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Insights

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What are the potential economic and social impacts of clean energy projects?
Read time: 5 mins

This insight will discuss the social and economic impacts of clean energy projects and the key challenges to securing economic benefits of clean energy infrastructure....
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The outcome of Allocation Round 6 for the UK’s clean energy mix
Read time: 3 mins

This insight looks at the results of Allocation Round 6 (AR6) which is the sixth major auction round for renewables under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) programme....
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What does the new NPPF consultation mean for economic development?
Read time: 2 mins

This insight piece sets out our thoughts on the updated NPPF (which recently went through its consultation stage) with the finalised document expected to be adopted later this year...
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What are the potential economic and social impacts of clean energy projects?
Read time: 5 mins

This insight will discuss the social and economic impacts of clean energy projects and the key challenges to securing economic benefits of clean energy infrastructure....
Read More
The outcome of Allocation Round 6 for the UK’s clean energy mix
Read time: 3 mins

This insight looks at the results of Allocation Round 6 (AR6) which is the sixth major auction round for renewables under the Contracts for Difference (CfD) programme....
Read More