News Round-up - 28 October 2005

Prescott refuses consent for gypsy scheme in Green Belt

The Deputy Prime Minister has gone against an inspector's recommendation and refused temporary permission for the stationing of 10 caravans/mobile homes on farmland in Green Belt near Dartford, Kent.

The decision letter said: "Notwithstanding that the Secretary of State has attached significant weight to the need for gypsy sites, the appellant's personal need for a site, the lack of an alternative site and the personal circumstances of the families, he disagrees with the inspector and concludes that the harm to the Green Belt from inappropriate development and any other harm is such that a temporary permission is not appropriate."

The Deputy Prime Minister also concluded that a personal permission was not justified in the circumstances. The proposals had been refused planning permission by Sevenoaks District Council.

Fulham pitch development rejected by council

The London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham has red-carded a plan by Fulham Football Club to build an Astroturf pitch on protected parkland by the Thames. The scheme was opposed by local residents.

County Antrim Shop row leads to judicial review

Objectors to the Northern Ireland government's decision to give the green light for a John Lewis superstore in County Antrim on an out-of-town site have been granted leave for a judicial review. Traders in Belfast and Lisburn fear the new store would harm their businesses.

Planning minister opens Southend-on-Sea affordable housing scheme

Housing minister Yvette Cooper MP has opened the Guinness Trust's new £3.6m development of 44 affordable homes at Victoria Gardens, Southend-on-Sea, part of a larger mixed tenure scheme of houses and flats on a former gasworks site.

The scheme will also include a new hotel and a community medical centre. The Guinness development is one of the first major sites completed in the Thames Gateway since it was designated a key growth area under the sustainable communities strategy.

Somerset wind farm plans rejected by council

Plans by developer Your Energy to build a 12-turbine wind farm close to the Hinkley Point nuclear site in Somerset have been rejected by West Somerset District Council.

Transport company given green light for Aberdeen development

The Scottish transport group First has been given the go-ahead for plans to build a headquarters complex and a new deport for 400 drivers on a greenfield site in Aberdeen.

The full city council approved the scheme after its planning committee voted to reject the proposals which still clearance from the Scottish Executive.

Biomass Task Force calls on LPAs to set renewables targets

The government's Biomass Task Force want every local authority to draw up targets for the use of renewable heat, electricity and combined heat and power in its buildings in a bid to help kick-start a major market in the use of biomass (wood, forestry waste and energy crops) for heating homes and public buildings.

The Task Force has also recommended that the government should encourage local authorities to use planning obligations to implement local planning policies on establishing district heating systems, based on biomass and other renewables.

View further details here.

Roger Milne

28 October 2005