News round-up 24 July 2008

Royal Assent for Crossrail legislation

The hybrid Crossrail Bill has received Royal Assent, paving the way for the construction of the 16bn GBP project which represents the largest single addition to the transport network in London and the South East for more than half a century.

The new rail line will run from Maidenhead and Heathrow in the west through tunnels under central London - with new stations at Paddington, Bond Street, Tottenham Court Road, Farringdon, Liverpool Street, Whitechapel, Isle of Dogs (Canary Wharf) - then out to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
 
The Crossrail Act grants powers to acquire land and for Crossrail to be built and maintained. Enabling works will take place next year, with main construction works set to begin in 2010.

Read the Department of Transport news release.

Legislation for new agency passes muster

The legislation creating the proposed new Homes and Communities Agency which will unite English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation has completed its parliamentary passage and received the Royal Assent. The legislation now includes a specific objective for the agency to promote good design.

When the Commons considered Lords' amendments recently, housing minister Iain Wright insisted that the provision giving the agency development and planning powers would only be used sparingly.

He reminded MPs that it would require a Parliamentary order. And he stressed that if the Secretary of State decided to use the power "she will need to be satisfied that designating an area and conferring local planning authority powers on the agency is justified and reasonable".

The minister also said that because of a Lords' amendment, the SoS would have to demonstrate clearly that "exercising the powers would provide additional capacity and bring added benefit to an area".

Read the Commons Hansard report (21 July, column 578)

Mosque go-ahead

Plans for an 18m GBP mosque and community centre in Dudley have been given outline planning permission on appeal by a planning inspector.

The scheme, which includes a 65ft minaret, had been refused by Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council on the grounds the site should be used for employment activity. Council leader David Caunt said: "We will be reviewing the decision in detail to ascertain whether there are legal grounds to challenge it."

Ashford redevelopment allowed on appeal

Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has allowed an appeal by Zed Homes for a major residential-led, mixed-use scheme on a site at Ashford in Kent. This was despite the fact she accepted that the proposals for over 1,000 dwellings, offices and superstore breached development plan policies in respect of the retail element and the contributions to community facilities and afordable housing.

The SoS, like the inspector who held the inquiry, argued that the housing contribution, a public car park and help with delivering a strategically important link road justified the proposals which promised a development with a high design standard.

Ashford Borough Council, the planning authority, was unhappy with Blear's decision. Councillor John Kemp, portfolio holder for planning and development, said: "The decision by the Secretary of State to allow this appeal is an extremely disappointing one and is contrary to the views of both the district and county councils and many local residents."

He added: "The application suggests a height and scale of development that is not needed or wanted in Ashford and which is totally at odds with the council’s aspirations."

Airport moves

Communities secretary Hazel Blears has called in proposals by the British Airports Authority for a second runway at Stansted Airport.

A Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "The Government has today ‘called in’ planning applications for a second runway at Stansted airport.
 
"A public inquiry will be held in due course. Anyone who wishes to express a view on the proposals can do so.
 
"These applications have been called in because this is a very large proposal of regional and national significance. An independent planning inspector will make a formal recommendation following the inquiry and the final decision will be taken by ministers."

Meanwhile councils opposed to expansion at Heathrow Airport have unveiled plans for a new north-south 30bn GBP high-speed rail link which would make it easier for people living in the Midlands, North and Scotland to get to Heathrow, reducing the need for internal connecting flights.

The plan is being promoted by the 2M group, an all-party alliance of local authorities unhappy about development plans at Heathrow and representing more than two million residents around the airport.

In a separate development the owners of Coventry Airport have begun a High Court case claiming the Government's decision last year to block their bid for a new passenger terminal, increased car-parking and a bigger aircraft apron was flawed.

Wind developments

The Scottish Government has given the green light to Europe's largest onshore wind farm. The 152-turbine Clyde wind farm near Abington in South Lanarkshire was originally proposed by Airtricity but is now a Scottish and Southern Energy project.

Ina separate but related development Eon UK and Dong have agreed to take over Shell's stake in the London Array, the huge off-shore wind farm proposed for the Thames estuary. The two energy companies were Shell’s original partners in the venture. Earlier this year Shell announced it was pulling out of the scheme.

Read the Scottish Government's press release.

Audit of England's nature begins

A wide-ranging audit of England’s natural resources – wildlife, habitats and eco-systems – has been launched by environment secretary Hilary Benn. The initiative will take two years to carry out.

Read the DEFRA press release.

Mayor intervenes over Latin American market

The story surrounding the proposed redevelopment of Ward's Corner in Seven Sisters, North London, has taken a new turn. The day before a special planning committee meeting of Haringey Council was due to decide Grainger's regeneration proposals - involving a new public square, an up-market shopping district and 197 new homes - the developer said it wanted to defer the application.

The scheme is controversial because of plans to demolish a building which will force closure of the Latin American market known as Pueblito Paisa. Three days before the committee was due to meet, London Mayor Boris Johnson intervened by calling on Haringey Council to review their stance on the demolition plan. Johnson said the offer of space in the new development to just a handful of current market tenants "was unacceptable".

Read London Mayor Boris Johnson's statement.

Enforcement review

Natural England has decided to review its enforcement procedures and launched a consultation exercise. Among other matters the wildlife watchdog is responsible for safeguarding Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Read the Natural England press release.

New goal for Sunderland district

More than 2m GBP of improvements are to be made to streets and public spaces in an historic area of Sunderland following approval by the city council. Over the next two years six streets in the Sunniside area of the city will have better lighting, paving, street furniture and art installations.
 
The area contains many historic buildings and played a key role in the city’s commercial and cultural life.

Top planner

Phil Kirby, strategic director and chief planner of Broadland District Council in Norfolk, has been elected the new president of the Planning Officers Society. His predecessor, Steve Quartermain, strategic director at Hambleton District Council, is due to become Community and Local Government’s next chief planner.

Read the Planning Officers Society press release.

Roger Milne

24 July 2008