Planning
Video conferencing first at council meeting
A council used software to help decide key planning applications in what is believed to be the first meeting of its kind in the country.
Jenrick outlines new proposals to reform planning process
Developers will be able to demolish vacant buildings and turn them into new homes more quickly under new proposals published today.
Social care 'tipping point in nine years'
Failings by councils and government mean the crisis in social care and specialist housing for older people will reach a tipping point in nine years, law firm Irwin Mitchell has warned.
Councils demand extra planning powers
Councils have called on the Government to use its White Paper to give them powers to take action on unbuilt land that has planning permission.
Planning White Paper to promote US-style zoning
The upcoming planning White Paper is expected to promote a US-style zoning approach.
This year’s model
As the tenth Conservative housing minister in a decade assumes the position, Localis chief executive Jonathan Werran assesses the political and policy challenges in the light of last week’s reshuffle.
Building a new housing approach
A new document explores why we are seeing the rise of local authority-led housing delivery, and the role planners can play in this. Laura Sharman explains.
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.
Building company to give 200 houses to homeless
Housebuilding company Hill is to donate 200 homes worth more than £10m to house homeless people.
Let’s replace Britain’s ‘old, cold housing stock’
As well as helping to tackle climate change, Adam Cunnington believes creating a new generation of low carbon homes creates a win-win for councils, taxpayers and residents.
Hertfordshire’s growing gains
Patsy Dell describes how collaborative working across the two-tier system has delivered a place-based programme that responds proactively to Hertfordshire’s growth ambitions and challenges.
Beyond the supply and demand equation
While we need to rapidly increase the supply of new homes, simply building more will not be enough; what we build, not just how much we build, matters, says Claire Kober.
Council approves EastEnders planning deal
A planning first that enables changes to be made to the set of BBC soap EastEnders without seeking formal permission could be followed by others.
Council acts after planning 'collusion'
‘Swift action’ has been taken by Northumberland Council’s senior management after ‘several persons in positions of authority and control’ appeared to ‘collude’ with a developer.
Rutland is the Mac daddy
Rutland CC can finally take its place alongside the likes of Ho Chi Minh City and Moscow.
LEPs start to buckle after overlap threat
Local enterprise partnerships (LEP) are finally succumbing to a threat by ministers to withhold funding from them if they refuse to remove overlapping boundaries.
Permitted development pressure on Government grows
Pressure is growing on the Government to conclude its review of homes built under controversial permitted development rights and scrap the rules.
Funding communities at the coal face
Areas like Bassetlaw need a change of approach by Government that delivers investment in hard-to-measure community assets, argues David Armiger.
The sector cannot simply make blank cheque arguments
It will be crucial to show the new Government that investing in local government will provide a return for ministers, says Simon Edwards.