Local Plans
Zero progress on climate but devo can keep things on track
The Levelling Up White Paper’s relative silence on net zero represents a huge missed opportunity – unless the devolution genie is quickly let out of the bottle, writes Grace Newcombe.
Section 106 agreements to be scrapped
Proposals for a standard Infrastructure Levy to replace the current system will be included in an overhaul of planning, it has been confirmed.
Change is coming and local authorities will need to adapt
Councils must grapple with planning issues now so that as much development as possible is adapted to deal with the effects of climate change, say Ben Standing and James Fawcett.
Pincher defends planning reforms
The Government’s revised proposals for planning reforms will seek to make the system more accessible, transparent and predictable, housing minister Christopher Pincher told peers today.
Population figures ignored local evidence
A watchdog has found official population growth statistics used to agree housing targets may have been overestimated.
Leading from the front on the ecological emergency
South Cambridgeshire DC has signed up to a vision of doubling nature by 2050, with its partners in Natural Cambridgeshire. Trevor Nicoll explains the three-tiered approach.
Planners back districts to keep homes bonus
Planners have backed district councils to keep the lion’s share of New Homes Bonus (NHB) in response to a consultation on the funding pot’s future.
Planning for climate power
A new report from APSE Energy looks at the practical ways in which the power of planning can be harnessed to embed climate change ambitions, say Phil Brennan and Paul O’Brien.
Live Local Plan Monitor provides an up-to-date snapshot
Carter Jonas’ Live Local Plan Monitor is 'a unique web-based resource which provides comprehensive information on adopted plans, emerging plans, consultations and councils’ housing supply' says Peter Canavan.
We need a renaissance in strategic planning
Joanna Killian says the need to deliver future-focused, robust infrastructure to support housing growth has never been greater - and a CCN-commissioned report offers proposals that 'taken together offer the critical missing piece of the puzzle'.
Planning Reforms: Data can shine a light on the true social value of development
Liam Ronan-Chlond says the challenges for both public and private sectors is how to properly measure the impact development has in the community – and technology can play a pivotal role.
Building foundations for community health
A new report calls on the Government to put public health at the heart of housing delivery. Paul O’Brien of APSE and Dr Daniel Slade highlight the main recommendations.
A demolition job on the planning system
The Prime Minister regards the new planning White Paper as ‘levelling the foundations’ of the present system but critics say it emasculates the role of local authorities. Michael Burton takes a look at what the paper proposes.
Reforms to fast-track local plans
Councils will face sanctions unless they draw-up local plans within 30 months under government proposals to overhaul the planning system.
We need a bold move to a flexible zoning system
Analyst at Centre for Cities Anthony Breach makes the case for a flexible zoning system. It would give the public a greater say, with the drafting of a local plan becoming ‘even more important’, he argues.
Local government prepares for planning battle
Battle lines are being drawn ahead of a proposed overhaul of the planning system.
Sharing our specialist local plan know-how
Many councils simply lack the staff to prepare a local plan, but Richard Kay outlines how Peterborough City Council tackled this by deciding to share its spare capacity, providing important expertise to other councils.
Government threatens intervention over local plan
Communities secretary Robert Jenrick is considering taking South Oxfordshire DC’s plan out of its hands.
Cornwall Council will help other authorities tackle the climate emergency
Cllr Edwina Hannaford says Cornwall Council will become an exemplar for what regional leadership can do on combating climate change.
Wiltshire leads the way in the climate challenge
Friends of the Earth put Wiltshire at the top of the list of most climate-friendly areas in England. Alistair Cunningham outlines how the council will set about achieving its aim for council and county to be carbon neutral by 2030.
