Planning
Planners in growth and infrastructure warning
Large-scale infrastructure projects and construction-led economic growth in Scotland are at risk if under-resourcing of the planning system continues.
Truss backs fiscal devolution
Chief secretary to the Treasury, Liz Truss, has given her backing to further fiscal devolution.
Planning system ‘underperforming’
The Government’s planning system is ‘underperforming’ and struggling to deliver on its aim of building 300,000 homes a year, auditors have found.
Councils should have a planner in top team
Cuts to planning authority budgets have left them unable to compete with the private sector for the best in leadership talent. It's time for local authority chief executives to put planning back at the top table, says Victoria Hills
Austerity undermines planners ability to ‘serve public interest’ - report
Government cuts have eroded the ability of planners to think strategically and to ‘serve the public interest,’ a report has claimed.
Council to take legal action over Local Plan delay
Stevenage BC will request a judicial review as the Government continues to hold up its Local Plan.
New year, new council homes
Later this year the first four MetroHomes will be built in Lambeth – a housing approach that uses Modern Methods of Construction (MMC). Cllr Matthew Bennett says it's an important first step in delivering the homes the borough needs.
A quarter of councils yet to submit a Local Plan
A quarter of local authorities have yet to submit a Local Plan six years after being required to act, new research has revealed.
Work to begin on new planning register
Work is being started on a new project to bring together data on planning applications from all councils across England.
Councils approve planning applications at ‘fastest rate’ in a decade
Local authorities are approving planning applications at their fastest rate in over a decade, a homelessness charity has revealed.
Commonwealth Games Athletes’ Village – a great start to the race to completion
Planning permission has been secured for the flagship Village for athletes taking part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonweath Games. This council-led regeneration project has made three years’ progress in just 364 days, say Ian Ward and Waheed Nazir.
Don't underestimate the perseverance of councils' unseen staff
District councils face another year of uncertainty as we strive to second guess the Fairer Funding Review, the impact of Brexit and adjust to the automation revolution, writes Allen Graham.
Planning changes aim to boost biodiversity
Changes to planning rules could require developers to provide a ‘biodiversity net gain’ in their plans.
MJ HOUSING: Planning for our futures
Staffordshire CC hopes borough and district councils take advantage of the extra borrowing capabilities they now have, and the county is looking at how it can be further involved in the delivery of housing, as Mark Winnington reveals
Former minister calls for end to ‘toxic’ permitted development
The planning system is failing to address public concerns in its current state, a former housing minister has said.
We’re not beggars and we can be choosers
With the amount of collective resources and brainpower going into the national housebuilding programme, we shouldn’t be faced with a choice between quantity and quality, argues Bob Neill
Councils are the heart of the beautiful homes debate
Central Government has rewritten the planning rulebook. Now it is up to local authorities to challenge poor quality and ugly developments with their powers to determine what their areas will look like, writes housing minister Kit Malthouse
Budget 2018: Letwin calls for new approach to large sites
Local authorities with high housing demand should be given the freedom to allocate land as single large sites and have powers to control their development, an independent review has concluded.
Leader threatens legal challenge over tunnel
Thurrock Council’s leader has threatened a judicial review of Highways England’s plan for a Lower Thames Crossing.
Brokenshire writes: Lifting the barriers to building
Councils are the ‘sleeping giant’ of our housing system, as James Brokenshire explains, and now is the time to remove the barriers preventing them from delivering the homes their communities need.