News round-up 26 June 2008
Demolition petition goes to Commons
Bob Spink, the UK Independence Party MP for the Castle Point constituency in Essex, has presented a petition in the House of Commons requesting Parliamentary support to prevent the demolition of two shops in Benfleet High Street to make way for a commercial development including seven two-bed roomed flats with only seven parking places.
The petition claims the scheme will put unacceptable pressure on public parking facilities and spoil the local Conservation Area. The petition wants the decision to be taken by councillors rather than delegated to officers from the planning authority.
Read the Commons Hansard report (23 June, column 119).
Regional planning worry
Major decisions on jobs, housing, transport and the environment should be made by elected council leaders not undemocratic quangos, the body which represents England's Regional Assemblies has argued.
That's the view of the English Regions Network (ERN) which is concerned over the Government plans to shift assembly planning powers to the unelected Regional Development Agencies.
Ministers have decided that the RDAs will in the future be responsible for single regional strategies covering land use and economic strategies.
The ERN backs the idea of a single regional strategy but has argued that the work should be led by a forum of council leaders.
A spokesperson for Communities and Local Government said: "Local councils will have more say and scrutiny powers over housing and planning once assemblies are abolished in 2010 but until then they will remain the accountable body.
"We are improving the planning system to better link up new jobs with new homes but regional plans still have to go through exactly the same public consultation process."
Read the English Regions Network press release.
Green building guide
Professionals interested in technical information and data on the strategies needed to create low-energy, green and healthy buildings can find help in printed form in the shape of The Green Building Bible volume 2, Fourth Edition, which has just been published.
Affordable housing drive
The Welsh Assembly Government has welcomed the findings of a report which urged the administration to spearhead moves to address the shortage of affordable housing.
Without a more concerted strategy Wales will fail to create the target of 6,500 affordable homes by 2011, the study warned.
Read the Welsh Assembly Government press release.
Turbine consent quashed
Permission for a ten-turbine wind farm on land close to the site of the former Bradwell nuclear power station site in Essex must be redetermined following a legal challenge.
London's High Court has quashed the consent granted by a planning inspector to RWE Npower Renewables because of drafting errors covering operational and construction noise conditions. These were transposed and made the conditions unenforceable.
Birmingham tower doubts
The Government’s design adviser has blown cold on proposals for a 35-storey office-led tower in the heart of Birmingham City Centre. The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment has complained that the scheme, planned for 103 Colmore Row, has not reached the high quality of design required and does not sit comfortably "between its smaller neighbours".
Carbon-neutral development competition
Gentoo group are launching a national competition in September to design a 50-home carbon-neutral development, open to all UK university students.
The Ecologic competition involves a cash prize and Sunderland-based Gentoo would ultimately hope to build the development.
Download the Ecologic competition brochure.
Guide to proposed householder permitted development reform launched
The Planning Portal has launched an online guide to the proposed changes to the householder permitted development regime, due to come into force later this year.
Roger Milne and Planning Portal
26 June 2008
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