News Round-Up - 27 March 2008
Mast plans make the grade
Some 85 per cent of planners polled by mobile phone operators have voiced satisfaction over the latest crop of annual development plans setting out mast siting plans.
That's a major finding from a survey of 139 planners, 85 per cent of whom said the plans met or exceeded their expectations, according to the Mobile Operators Association (MOA).
As a result some 53 councils took up the offer of a meeting with all the operators to discuss plans, twice as many as in 2005/06 when the plans were first distributed electronically.
Visit the Mobile Operators Association website.
Capital notches up its first approved core strategy
Redbridge Council has become the first planning authority in London to formally approve its core strategy, judged "sound" by a planning inspector after an examination in public last year.
Manchester master plan approved
The master plan for West Gorton in Manchester by architects BDP on behalf of developer consortium BASE, a joint venture between Artisan and Barratt, has been approved by the city council's executive.
The scheme includes refurbishment of 250 existing homes, 1,200 high-quality new houses and apartments. Other proposals involve new shops, a medical centre, a primary school and a community park with play and sports facilities. A planning application for the 52 hectare area is expected to be submitted this summer.
Increase for Planning Aid funding
The Government has announced a doubling – to £3.2 million – of the financial support it gives to the nationwide Planning Aid service.
Green guidance published
Consultants ERM, working on behalf of the Government, have published a working draft of practice guidance to help planners and councils implement the policies set out in the Government's recent Planning policy Statement on climate change.
Cash boost for Welsh planning
All 25 planning authorities in Wales will receive a share of the £1.75 million which the Welsh Assembly Government has set aside to help improve the delivery of the planning service in Wales.
Regeneration scheme plans to use waste for heat and power
Plans for one of the biggest regeneration schemes ever undertaken in London have been submitted to Barnet Council. The £4.5bn scheme involves proposals for a whole new town centre based around Cricklewood and Brent Cross and includes plans for 7,500 new homes, three schools, parks and up to 27,000 jobs.
The project has been drawn up by Brookfield Europe (formerly Multiplex) Hammerson and Standard Life and includes proposals for what is claimed to be the UK's first automated waste collection system which is planned to provide fuel for a combined heat and power plant on site.
Read the Barnet Council press release
Consent reminder
The Royal Planning Institute has stressed the importance of home owners obtaining planning permission for major alterations to their houses. This reminder was timed for the Easter weekend, traditionally the unofficial start of the "renovation season".
Property developer in court over building failure
A property developer who was fined for demolishing an important listed building in Putney, west London without permission has been ordered to pay another £13,000 in fines and legal bills after he failed to re build the property.
Rajiv Laxman was prosecuted by Wandsworth Council's planning department after failing to comply with a notice requiring him to rebuild the former caretaker's cottage at Brandlehow School.
Read the Wandsworth Council press release
Commercial vandalism warning
Local government minister John Healey has not ruled out legislation to prevent commercial property owners from removing roofs or deliberately making their property derelict to avoid liability for taxes. The minister has written to councils to remind them they already have tough powers to prevent deliberate dereliction.
Read the Communities and Local Government news release
Watts from wood
Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond has formally opened Steven's Croft Power Station near Lockerbie, the largest wood-fired power station in the UK.
Read The Scottish Government press release
Allotments provision urged
The Local Government Association has urged councils to make more use of their powers to require the provision of new allotments in major new developments.
Read the Local Government Association press release
Colliery regeneration invite
National regeneration agency English Partnerships has invited developers to put forward proposals to build 300 well-designed new homes and community facilities on the site of a former colliery near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.
Read the English Partnerships press release
Train firm turbine plan
Train operator First ScotRail has submitted plans to build a wind turbine at Leuchars station in Fife. If the project is successful the rail company plans to propose turbines for other stations in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint.
Roger Milne
27 March 2008
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