News round-up - 17 July 2008
More growth points named
Communities and Local Government has named the 20 towns and cities which have been selected to benefit from the second round of the Government’s New Growth Points initiative. For the first time the successful bids include some from the North of England.
The local authorities involved have pledged to increase the number of homes in their local areas by up to 20 per cent by 2016, delivering an extra 75,000 homes. The department is providing some 100m GBP in funding for schools, hospitals and other facilities to support this.
Housing Minister Caroline Flint said: "The package being announced today will both help people facing difficulties right now, and lay the foundations to help meet the long-term housing needs of the country.
"We have a growing and ageing population and will only see worsening affordability unless we increase housing supply. The extra homes provided through Growth Points will deliver a substantial number of affordable new homes and help deliver the homes needed for our families and first time buyers."
Meanwhile Natural England has urged councils and developers to ensure that the resulting developments make specific provision for green infrastructure in the shape of parks, open spaces and "wild areas".
Download 'Second Round Growth Points: Partnerships for Growth' (PDF)
New marine planning regime mooted for Scotland
The Scottish Government has started consulting on proposals for new marine planning arrangements which would create a single regime on and off-shore. The proposals are contained in the country's first draft Marine Bill.
Read the Scottish Government news release.
Green light for town centre Action Plan
The strategy that will help shape the future of Taunton's town centre has been approved by a planning inspector. The thumbs-up for the Taunton Town Centre Action Plan will help deliver key regeneration sites totalling around 50 hectares. These include the Livestock Market and former railway sidings; the County Cricket Ground and Coal Orchard; Castle Green and the Tangier area.
The Action Plan is part of Taunton Deane Borough Council's Local Development Framework, the new style local plan.
Read the Taunton Deane Borough Council press release.
Demolition of illegal dwelling
A 600,000 GBP property in Stockport has been demolished following a planning saga over a house put up by a local builder which was materially different from the original approved plans.
Mr Woodfinden-Lewis and his wife applied for a two-bedroom cottage, but the finished home had two reception rooms, four bedrooms and two en-suite bathrooms, overlooking 40 acres of Green Belt land.
Councillor Chris Baker, chairman of Stockport Council’s planning and highways regulation committee, said: "Mr and Mrs Woodfinden-Lewis chose to ignore the approved plans and built a house which was completely inappropriate in this location.
"They then ignored council advice which resulted in formal action being taken. The waste of time and resources expended on this development is regrettable."
Read the Stockport council news release.
Wales Spatial Plan endorsed by AMs
The updated version of the Wales Spatial Plan, the subject of recent public consultation, has been formally endorsed by Assembly Members.
Stonehenge consultation opens
Proposals to revise the Stonehenge World Heritage Site Management Plan and plans to improve the monument's landscape setting and presentation to visitors in time for the 2012 Olympics have been unveiled for public consultation.
The proposals have been developed by English Heritage on behalf of a group of heritage and Government organisations to take forward the Government’s commitment to make environmental improvements at Stonehenge, following the transport minister’s decision, in December 2007, to cancel the scheme for improvements to the A303 road at Stonehenge.
Read the English Heritage news release.
Planning service 'fair'
Bassetlaw District Council’s planning service is “fair” with “promising prospects” for improvement, according to an independent assessment just published by the Audit Commission.
Access the Audit Commission report.
Mind your language
Communities secretary Hazel Blears has urged planners to improve their communication skills. The call came when she addressed the annual planning convention organised by the Royal Town Planning Institute.
Blears acknowledged that all professions needed "their own lexicon of specialist terms". But she warned that talking about "place shaping, plan-making or spatial dimension" to the general public risked sending them to sleep.
She told delegates: "As well as technical skills it’s vital to be able to explain what you’re about in straightforward language."
Belfast man fined 7,500 GBP for enforcement breach
A Belfast man has been fined 7,500 GBP plus 88 GBP court costs for failing to comply with a planning enforcement notice in respect of the use of land for storage in Co Fermanagh. The case was brought by the Province's Planning Service.
Read the Northern Ireland Executive news release.
Turbine on song
Communities secretary Hazel Blears has agreed with a planning inspector and allowed a proposal from the management of the Glyndebourne Opera House to locate a 750 kilowatt wind turbine to power the venue on land in the South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The SoS said the benefits of the scheme outweighed the impact on the AONB.
Eco-town concerns
The East of England Regional Assembly has voiced concern over proposals for four eco-towns in the region. The body is worried that the planning system will be bypassed and that the schemes themselves are unsustainable.
Read the East of England Regional Assembly news release.
New planning tool
Local authorities and regional decision makers are being urged to make use of a new way of evaluating their planning policies.
The methodology should help councils and planners properly assess the combined economic, social and environmental outcomes of their spatial planning strategies.
This model is the result of the Royal Town Planning Institute and Communities and Local Government Outcome Indicators Project.
Student housing approved
The UNITE Group, the UK's largest manager of branded student accommodation has gained consent from Camden and Islington Councils for two schemes costing nearly 55m GBP which will provide rooms for some 370 students.
Roger Milne
17 July 2008
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