March 7, 2009 Financial Times
Nimbies Rise Up Against Building Projects
Attitudes have hardened against new property development despite the promise of new jobs that could be created in the recession.
More than one in five people of those surveyed have objected to
a project in the past year, according to Saint Index, an annual survey of public attitudes to property development in the UK.
The study says that Nimbyism - the acronym of Not In My Back Yard used to describe
opposition by local residents - is on the rise across the country.
Some 85 per cent of respondents say they would oppose development in their local area,
broadly the same level as last year's survey, but active Nimbyism has almost doubled in the
past two years.
November 05, 2007 Environment & Energy TV
ONPOINT
Saint Consulting President Patrick Fox was interviewed about the 2007 Saint Index findings and power plant support/opposition by Environment & Energy TV's ONPOINT webcast.
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October 10, 2007 Wall Street Journal
PLOTS & PLOYS
For and Against
Americans would rather have a new nuclear-power plant in their town than a casino or a landfill, according to a new survey of attitudes on local development projects.
That is among the findings in an August telephone survey by the Center for Economic and Civic Opinion at the University of Massachusetts.
The study was commissioned by the Saint Consulting Group, a Hingham, Mass., firm that advises developers on garnering community support for projects. The firm also helps developers scuttle competitors' projects by assisting community opposition groups, according to Patrick Fox, Saint's president.
August 23, 2007 Inc
Saint Consulting Is Named One of the 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies In America
Inc. today included The Saint Consulting Group on its first ever
Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. The Inc. 5,000, an
extension of Inc. magazine’s annual Inc. 500 list, catches many businesses that are too big to
grow at the pace required to make the Inc. 500, as well as a host of smaller firms. Taken as a
whole, these companies represent the backbone of the U.S. economy.
Saint Consulting is listed 3,152 on the list, with revenue of $25 million for calendar 2006, a
growth rate of 25 percent from 2003.
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March/April 2007 Consulting Magazine
In the Land of the Giants
THE AVENUES LEADING INTO FORTUNE 1000 CLIENTS HAVE LONG BEEN LITTERED WITH SMALL FIRMS THAT HAVE BEEN STEPPED ON BY LARGER AND MORE AGGRESSIVE RIVALS. HERE'S A LOOK AT 7 SMALL FIRMS THAT THRIVE BESIDE THE ELEPHANTS.
P. Michael Saint was running is own small PR firm when he received a call in 1984 from a friend. The friend, a developer, wanted to build a quality office building to replace an abandoned junk yard. "I told him to expect opposition from the neighbors," Saint recalls. His friend's lawyer advised him to slip quietly into City Hall in August when everyone was on vacation and pick-up a permit; it would be a no-brainer.
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January 4, 2006 Wall Street Journal
Stop Right There
Landfills, casinos and power plants are the most unpopular types of development in the U.S., according to a recent survey conducted by the Center for Economic and Civic Opinion at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.
The first-time survey, commissioned by the Hingham, Mass.-based Saint Consulting Group, which advises developers on local political issues, asked about 1,000 people around the country for their opinions on development and developers.
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June 2009 Metro Magazine
Getting Out the Vote for Rail Transit Initiatives
Rail transit has become increasingly
popular as people in major cities continue
seeking ways to reduce traffic
and protect the environment. For example, a
ballot initiative authorizing rail transit in Honolulu recently
passed as voters sought relief from some of the worst traffic
in the nation. The measure passed by a margin of 53 percent
to 47 percent in light of a well-organized opposition campaign.
The final vote was 155,880 in favor to 140,623 opposed — a difference of 15,257 votes.
May 8, 2009 Wind Energy Daily
If Transmission is for Renewables, Yes-in-My-Backyard: Poll
While a majority of Americans oppose new high-voltage transmission lines in their
communities, opposition drops precipitously to 17% if those lines are delivering clean,
renewable energy from wind, according to a just-released survey from the Saint
Consulting Group.
Support for new transmission lines leaps from just 46% to 83% when respondents are
asked specifically about high-voltage transmission lines delivering wind power.
Ben Kelahan, energy practice leader at Saint Consulting, said the new results are a clear
sign that Americans support cleaner, renewable power to the level that their support has
carried over to the distribution of that power through their own backyard.
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April 13, 2009 Gaming Industry Observer
Development trends...
POLITICIANS, OPERATORS TAKE NOTE: CASINOS MORE RADIOACTIVE THAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
Americans in 2008 said by a margin of 84
percent to 14 percent that casino gambling is
acceptable for themselves or others, according to the
annual American Gaming Association poll. In the
same year, Americans also said by similar margin –
77 percent to 21 percent – that they would oppose
the development of a casino in their community,
according to the Saint Index poll.
In fact, the prospect of building a local casino is far
more radioactive than building a nuclear power plant
(60 percent opposed – “The Simpsons” must have
something to do with that). Only the prospect of a
local landfill is more rank – barely – than a casino.
Republished with permission of Gaming Industry Observer.
April 04, 2009 Retail Express
Tough Times Means More Support For Indie Sector
CONSUMER POLL PUTS C-STORE APPROVAL UP 12 PER CENT
C-Stores are more
popular than ever
and budget supermarkets
are the best of
the rest, according to a
recent survey into the
public’s attitude towards
development.
An annual survey of 1,000 people
by planning specialists Saint
Consulting saw the approval rating
for convenience stores jump
to 12 per cent from four per cent
last year.
Attitudes towards development
within the grocery industry improved
overall, with the approval
rating climbing from -26 per cent
to -14 per cent. Budget supermarket
Aldi achieved the best score of
minus two per cent, with approval
for Somerfield and Waitrose
trailing at -20 and -14 per cent
respectively.
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March 27, 2009 Planning
Fyson On...Rising Tide of Hardened Nimbies Threatens Greater Risk of Action Against Planned Developments
Given the difficulty of defining the phenomenon known as nimbyism, it is just as well that a survey of it prevalence should be part of a series.
Saint Consulting's annual report on public attitudes towards development has entered its third year. While the firm's contribution towards understanding exactly why epople oppose development is limited, the extent to which they do so is revealed and changes in attitude are becoming apparent.
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March 27, 2009 North American Wind Power
Survey: Most Americans Do Not View Wind Farms As Harmful
Seventy-nine percent of Americans do not believe a large wind farm project is detrimental to
their health and welfare, according to the 2009 Saint Index survey of attitudes toward real
estate development projects.
Slightly more than one in 10 adults, 11%, say a large wind project could diminish health and
welfare.
The fourth annual Saint Index survey involved interviews with 1,000 adults nationwide. The
study is conducted by The Saint Consulting Group, which tracks the politics of land use in the
U.S, Canada and U.K.
March 26, 2009 Construction Now
Nimbyism Growth Threatens Development
Planners are facing an increasingly difficult struggle to get public acceptance of development projects, according to an annual survey of public attitudes.
The UK Saint Index found that the percentage of people that have objected to a development project in the past year has increased to 21% of the population, up from 13% in 2007.
General opposition to development is running at 85%, down one percentage point from last
year, while the percentage of the population who actively favour developments remains at six
per cent.
People’s responses do depend on what type of project is under consideration. Schools (43%)
and windfarms (21%) are the most popular, ahead of private housing (19%), new roads
(17%) and convenience food (12%).
March 20, 2009 Wind Energy Weekly
82% of Americans Support Locally Sited Wind: Survey
An impressive 82% of Americans support wind farm projects in their hometown, up from 76%
a year ago, according to a recent survey.
The 2009 Saint Index is the fourth such survey from the Saint Consulting Group and involved
interviews with 1,000 adults nationwide.
Broken down by region, residents in the Midwest showed the greatest support for wind power
in their community, at 86%. The South came in at 82% support, followed by the Mid-Atlantic
(81%), the West (80%), and the Northeast (77%).
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March 18, 2009 Quarry Management
Quarries Now Most Opposed Sector in the UK
British attitudes have hardened against various types of land development, particularly quarries,
even in the midst of economic recession and with the promise of new jobs that such projects can bring,
according to the latest UK Saint Index – an annual survey on public attitudes to development.
The 2009 survey carried out by The Saint Consulting Group in January/February found that quarries
have reached a new all-time low, for the first time beating casinos and power stations as the most
disliked form of development in the UK.
March 14, 2009 The Grocer
Public Warm To Stores On Their Doorstep
The public would rather an Asda, Morrisons or Aldi moved into their local community than other supermarkets, according to new research.
The survey by Saint Consulting suggested people's views towards supermarkets - particularly those operating in the budget arena - had softened due to the recession.
Although they are still viewed negatively, supermarkets' nimby approval rating had risen from -26% to -14%. And a tenth of the 1,000 people surveyed said they would like a new store in their local area.
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March 13, 2009 Showhouse
Nimbyism Increases Despite Market Woes
The UK Saint Index, the annual survey on public attitude to property development,
shows that 51 per cent of respondents oppose private residential development. Last
year the figure stood at 40 per cent. The Saint Consulting Group said that 74 per cent
of respondents deem the government’s target of building three million homes by
2020 to be unrealistic, while in 2008, 68 per cent thought this to be the case.
March 13, 2009 Utility Week
Growing Nimbyism Spares Wind
British attitudes have hardened against most forms of new development, including power stations, but wind power appears to be bucking the trend, according to an annual survey of public attitudes to development compiled by the Saint Consulting Group.
Although the consultancy argued that "not in my backyard" (Nimby) attitudes had peaked, it said that people were becoming more active in opposing schemes.
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March 11, 2009 The Patriot Ledger
Helping Developers Overcome Opposition
CONSULTANT HELPS DEVELOPERS TO BRING IN NEW PROJECTS BY UNDERSTANDING RESIDENTS
QUINCY — Tip O’Neill said that all politics is local. Patrick Fox, the president of Saint Consulting
Group in Hingham, says that all land-use is political. Fox said he started working on political
campaigns when he was 12 years old. When he got married and the nomadic life of a campaign
manager became difficult to continue, he ran a congressional district office and later started a
government relations consulting firm. Through a mutual friend, he began consulting for Mike Saint, the
founder of Saint Consulting, which helps developers fight controversial land-use battles. Eventually,
Fox came to work for the company full-time in 1998. He has been its president since 2003.
With more than 85 employees in 10 U.S. offices (the company also has offices in London and
Toronto), Saint Consulting had about $30 million in revenue in its 2008 fiscal year.
March 11, 2009 Estates Gazette
Nimbyism on the Rise as Climate Bites
The British public's attitudes against development have hardened
in the midst of the economic climate, according to a new survey
from Saint Consulting.
The Saint Index, which surveyed 1,000 people in January and
February this year, found that 85% of respondents were antidevelopment.
Nick Keable, UK vice president of the Saint Consulting Group,
said: "Nimbyism is hardening in Britain. Although it is possible we
may have reached the high water mark for general opposition,
those that are against development are becoming more
aggressively active in opposing schemes nationwide.
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March 10, 2009 Birmingham Post
NIMBYism In the West Midlands is Becoming a
Growth Industry
It’s official; British attitudes are hardening. NIMBYism, the Not In My Back Yard ethos of
protesting against new developments in their surrounding area, is on the increase according
to a new piece of research.
The annual survey on the issue by UK Saint Index, carried out to create a census on public
attitude to commercial development, has discovered that, while the percentage of the
population with a general aversion to development has risen to 85 per cent, those who are
prepared to do something about it has reached nearly a third.
http://www.birminghampost.net/birmingham-business/...
March 09, 2009 MIPIM News
Public Attitude to Development Not Helping Economic Growth in UK
The UK is a nation of NIMBYs (Not
In My Back Yard), according to a
survey on attitudes to development
in Britain.
This holds true even in the midst of
economic recession and with the
promise of new jobs that such projects
can bring, reported the latest UK
Saint Index, an annual survey on public
attitudes to property development.
The UK Saint Index questioned 1,000
people throughout the UK in January
and February 2009.
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March 09, 2009 Planning Resource
Nimbyism 'Hardening' In Britain
PLANNERS FACE AN INCREASINGLY DIFFICULT STRUGGLE TO GET PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS, ACCORDING TO AN ANNUAL SURVEY OF PUBLIC ATTITUDES.
The UK Saint Index found that the percentage of people that have objected to a development project in the past year has increased to 21 per cent of the population, up from 13 per cent in 2007.
General opposition to development is running at 85 per cent, down one percentage point from last year, while the percentage of the population who actively favour developments remains at six per cent.
People's responses do depend on what type of project is under consideration. Schools (43%) and windfarms (21%) are the most popular, ahead of private housing (19%), new roads (17%) and convenience food (12%).
http://www.planningresource.co.uk/news/EmailIt/888418/...
March 06, 2009 Property Week
Not In Their Back Yards
THE END OF THE PROPERTY BOOM HAS SPARKED A RISE IN PROTESTS AGAINST DEVELOPMENT.
During the property boom developers squeezed more and more on to their sites to make scheme viable. Now, the nimbys are fighting back and using the internet to bolster their campaigns.
Today, Saint Consulting publishes research showing that nearly a third of more than 1,000 people surveyed in the UK had objected to a planning application in the past year. The 29% figure this year is up on the 24% in 2008 and 16% in 2007 (graph 1). Saint says this rise is a reaction to overly dense developments at the tail end of the boom.
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February 23, 2009 Commercial Property News
Economy May Be Easing NIMBY-ism: Saint Consulting
The prospect of nearby commercial development still raises the hackles of many Americans,
but the economic crisis is also causing people to look more kindly on building in their
communities, concludes an annual survey conducted by the Saint Consulting Group.
Opposition to development remains remarkably consistent throughout all regions of the
United States, according to Saint Consulting, which advises developers on winning approval
for controversial projects. Seventy-nine percent of those in the West said that they would
oppose new development in their home towns; the survey found the lowest level of antidevelopment
sentiment, 70 percent, in the Midwest. The national average is 74 percent.
Sixty-nine percent agreed that the land-use approval process is unfair because of the
relationship between developers and elected officials. One-quarter of those surveyed
contend that local planning and zoning regulations are not strict enough.
January 13, 2009 Forbes
Welcome, Wal-Marts!
Chicago - What a difference a bad economy makes. Wal-Mart, the retailer routinely accused of destroying communities and neighborhoods, is facing less opposition according to a recent survey.
Of 1,000 adults who were interviewed nationwide in October and November, 56% said they would oppose a Wal-Mart in their community. That's down from 68% two years ago.
"People are afraid that economic development has come to a standstill," says Patrick Fox, president of Saint Consulting Group, the firm that conducted the interviews as part of its annual report on attitudes toward development. "The news is filled with economic doomsday data."
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/13/wal-mart-retail...
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