The cities and local government devolution bill has been introduced in the Lords and will have its second reading next week (8 June).
The legislation will pave the way for cities and counties around the country to gain new wide-ranging powers an let combined authorities control transport, housing, strategic planning, health, social care and skills training to boost growth.
Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “We’re determined to end the hoarding of power in Whitehall and rebalance our economy – unlocking local flair so our cities, towns and counties can reach their full potential and become their own economic powerhouses up and down the country.
He added: “This bill will deliver the historic Greater Manchester devolution agreement and set the wheels in motion for other areas to follow.”
Northern powerhouse minister James Wharton said: “The new powers will give Greater Manchester the reins on decision making over important local priorities, including economic development, local transport, housing, skills and vital public services like health and social care.
“It will also allow for the creation of an elected mayor for the whole of Greater Manchester’s combined authority area. The new mayor would have a range of powers and act as the police and crime commission for the area.”
Responsibility for cities policy has transferred from the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the administration told Parliament on Monday.
There has already been devolution in the form of City Deals, Growth Deals and the more recent devolution agreements between the government and Greater Manchester, Leeds City Region and Sheffield City Region.
View more information on the cities and local government devolution bill
Roger Milne
Shropshire Council has denied media claims that councillor concern over the planning authority’s delegation regime has prompted a review of the committee and delegation procedures.
The council has an adopted scheme of delegation as part of its constitution and currently delegates around 94 per cent of planning applications to officers. This is a figure in line with near neighbour unitary councils and many others nationally, the council claimed.
The local authority has acknowledged that there have been “some complaints about a limited number of schemes recently that have been delegated rather than referred to committee”. However, it insisted that the delegation criteria has been applied in each case.
The council’s planning services operations manager Ian Kilby said: “The important point is that planning committee continues to deal with those applications that are complex or contentious and that will remain the case in the future.”
The council has set up a so-called ‘task and finish’ group to look at the delivery of the planning committee process “to identify what will work best for Shropshire, not as quoted in the Shropshire Star because there had been complaints about the level of delegation,” said Kilby.
To date the task and finish group has met on two occasions. “It will be reviewing the practices of other similar council’s and include stakeholder engagement to determine the best outcome for Shropshire” added Kilby.
Roger Milne
The Welsh Government has started consulting on how its proposed new regime for Developments of National Significance (DNS) will work. In essence this is a Welsh version of the Planning Act 2008 regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs).
The administration’s planning bill introduces the concept and a consultation paper just published is canvassing views on thresholds for proposed schemes, how secondary consents may be submitted for consideration and determined alongside an application for DNS and how pre-application notification, advice and consultation will be undertaken.
Under the proposed new regime Welsh ministers will determine proposals at or above a specific threshold for various categories of infrastructure development, many of which are energy- based.
Listed are gas storage and terminal projects, new airports, new rail links, rail freight interchanges, new dams and reservoirs, major new pipelines, wastewater treatment plants, hazardous waste facilities, water transfer schemes and power plants.
Currently the proposal covers plants of between 25 and 50 megawatts in capacity. In future this threshold will increase to 350 megawatts, once other legislation is passed.
Angus Walker, Bircham Dyson Bell’s infrastructure guru pointed out: “Although the DNS system mirrors the Planning Act regime, note that it is still technically a grant of planning permission, whereas development consent under the Planning Act 2008 is different to and instead of planning permission.
“This means that it has to work within the conventional town and country planning regime rather than start from scratch, so can never be as comprehensive as the 2008 Act.
“It is intended to be a one-stop shop, as far as possible, and a list of 15 ‘secondary consents’ that can be applied for at the same time as the main DNS consent is proposed.
“Again, these consents cannot legally be dispensed with, so the regime does what it can to make it appear to be a single process from the outside. Compulsory purchase is in the list but only for the purposes of regeneration, which may be a problem.”
View the Developments of National Significance consultation
Roger Milne
Research into planning department cuts and economic development
The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has commissioned major new research into whether cuts to planning departments are undermining economic recovery across the North West region.
This is the first time, since budget cuts took place in 2010, that any study has looked at links between development investment, economic growth, housing delivery and the resourcing of planning.
The research will be carried out by Arup, the global engineering, design and planning consultancy.
Arup will be inviting every local planning authority in the region to participate in a survey over the coming weeks. Findings are due to be published at the end of September 2015.
Joanne Harding, chair of RTPI North West region, said: “The study is very timely with the new Government announcing plans for a Northern Powerhouse to redress the North-South economic imbalance, and to attract investment into northern cities and towns.
“Arup will aim to quantify the impact of development pressures on public sector planning resources across the region and the consequences for the regional economy if this is not addressed.”
View the press release on the RTPI website
Energy Secretary won’t determine controversial gas storage project
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has confirmed that Lord Bourne of Aberystwyth, its minister in the Upper House, will be handling the redetermination of development consent for Halite Energy’s proposed underground gas storage scheme earmarked for land near Wyre on the Lancashire coast.
Last year the energy company mounted a successful High Court challenge over the decision by the then Climate Change Minister Greg Barker to refuse the project despite planning inspector’s having recommended that the project should get the go-ahead. Lord Bourne is the new minister overseeing planning issues in the department.
The department has played down speculation that the reason Bourne rather than Energy Secretary Amber Rudd is dealing with the redetermination of the scheme is because of a possible conflict of interest. Rudd’s brother Roland is chairman of the lobbying group Finsbury which works for Halite Energy.
More information on the project can be found on the Halite Energy Group website
Oxfordshire arsonist sectioned as trial ends
The man who admitted causing the fires which resulted in major damage to the joint planning office operated by South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils has been detained indefinitely in a secure mental health unit.
47-year old Andrew Main had admitted setting fires but pleaded not guilty to a charge of arson with intent to endanger life.
When the resumed case was considered at Oxford Crown Court last Friday the prosecution decided not to proceed to trial with the charge at Oxford Crown Court, and it will lie on file.
The estimated cost to the councils of repairing damage from the fires on 15 January was about £20m, the court heard.
Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle said: “We will never know why you picked on the targets you did, but we will always know that the consequences were utterly, utterly devastating.”
It was revealed in court Main had mental health issues, most likely a severe bi-polar disorder.
The court was told he intended to kill himself after setting the fires.
The councils’ joint planning department is due to relocate to new offices near Didcot, Oxfordshire, by the end of this month.
London round-up
- London Mayor Boris Johnson has published Draft Interim Housing Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) for public consultation. The draft Housing SPG provides revised guidance on how to implement the housing policies in the London Plan. Proposed revisions take account of the Further Alterations to the London Plan, which was published by the Mayor in March.
In addition, the draft guidance shows how London’s standards will be affected by the introduction of the Government’s new national technical standards and provides clarity on what standards apply in the transition period before the adoption of the Minor Alterations to the London Plan (MALP). Other proposed revisions to the SPG have been made to reflect updated evidence, mayoral strategies and national guidance.
View the Draft interim Housing Supplementary Guidance - Croydon Council’s planning chief Mike Kiely is set to leave the South London Local Authority to set up his own planning consultancy.
- Developer Eco World Ballymore has launched the second phase of its London City Island ‘mini-Manhattan’ scheme at Canning Town in East London which makes provision for over 400 new flats, rehearsal facilities for the English National Ballet, shops, restaurants and an arts club.
View more information about the London City Island - Changes in the law have kicked-in which remove planning restrictions on short-term lets in the capital.
Legal round-up
- Islington and Camden councils have applied for a judicial review of London Mayor Boris Johnson’s planning approval for the redevelopment of the Royal Mail’s Mount Pleasant site near Farringdon Station. The action is being taken on the grounds that the Mayor failed to secure the maximum affordable housing and did not fulfill the requirements of policy and fair process when he assessed the scheme’s viability.
- A landlord and his planning agent who tried to deceive Brent Council and the Planning Inspectorate by submitting forged tenancy agreements in support of a planning application in north-west London have been fined thousands of pounds by Willesden Magistrates’ Court.
- Last week Belfast High Court was told that Northern Ireland Environment Minister Mark H Durkan had no authority to approve the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan on his own.
- Westminster City Council has won a challenge in the Court of Appeal to an inspector’s decision to quash a planning enforcement notice.
View the appeal
CIL delays Berkshire homes
Proposals for a 550-home development at Binfield, Berkshire have been approved after being reconsidered by the planning committee of Bracknell Forest District Council. The council has now adopted a Community Infrastructure Levy tariff which was not in place when the scheme was originally supported, subject to completion of a s106 agreement.
London council plans ‘direct action’ enforcement
Redbridge Council is proposing to trial a system involving direct action linked to enforcement procedures, which could mean speedy demolition of unlawful structures.
The planning authority is consulting on its proposals and aims to trial them this autumn. The option of direct action will be used alongside prosecution and/or injunctions to stop lengthy negotiations and to resolve planning breaches, the east London local authority explained.
This means that the council will be able to deal more effectively with planning breaches such as substandard, poor quality housing.
View the press release on Redbridge Council’s website
Basement bill introduced in the Lords
A bill to curb planning permission for subterranean development where certain conditions apply has been introduced into Parliament by Lord Dubs, the former Battersea Labour MP.
View more information about the planning (subterranean development) bill
Consent order for Norwich bypass
Norwich’s northern bypass has been granted development consent by Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.
The Northern Distributor Road (NDR) is planned to run from Postwick on the A47 and go around the east and north of the city, to connect with the A1067. The 20-kilometre dual carriageway will cost about £148m.
View more information about the NDR on the Norfolk County Council website
New target for release of surplus public land for homes
Communities Secretary Greg Clark has urged Whitehall departments and local authorities to redouble their efforts to release surplus publicly-owned land and property for new residential development.
His call came as he and fellow ministers announced a new target to release sufficient public land for the building of 150,000 new homes by 2020.
Over the past five years enough public land was released to allow for 103,000 new homes, the Department for Communities and local Government has revealed.
View the press release on GOV.UK
Cross Border power line project
Scottish Power Energy Networks has unveiled proposals to modernise the overhead power line network stretching from Ayrshire across Dumfries and Galloway and into Cumbria.
The energy transmission company says it needs to replace much of the ageing system with a new higher voltage line.
It has published its preliminary thinking on the route corridor for a new 400kV power line between Auchencrosh in South Ayrshire and Harker across the border in Cumbria which would replace the existing 132kV link which is now at the end of its operational life.
Publication of the proposed route comes in advance of public consultation on the details of the scheme.
View more information on the project
Hull threat underlines climate change risks says TCPA
The threat of coastal cities like Hull being wiped off the map is a real one, according to environmental charity the Town and Country Planning Association. The TCPA fears coastal erosion and rising sea levels are not being taken seriously enough by the government.
Dr Hugh Ellis, head of policy at the TCPA told the Hay Festival that sea levels could be at least a metre higher by the year 2100. “We need to be thinking, does Hull have a future?” said Dr Ellis.
View more information about the Hay Festival
Roger Milne
Although there was no stand-alone planning bill promised in this week’s Queen’s Speech there is plenty to exercise planners and planning authorities in the new government’s first legislative programme.
As expected there will be both a Housing Bill and a Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill.
Controversially the former will require housing associations to allow tenants to buy their homes as well as providing the statutory framework to support the delivery of 200,000 Starter Homes on brownfield sites.
Also in the Housing Bill will be provision for a statutory register of brownfield land, measures to simplify and speed up neighbourhood planning and a requirement for local authorities to support custom and self-builders as part of the administration’s Right to Build initiative.
In respect of the Cities and Local Government Devolution Bill, ministers will provide the legislative muscle to deliver the pioneering Greater Manchester deal and future ones – both in large cities which choose to have elected mayors and in other places.
Also promised are more measures to expand the existing programme of Growth Deals. A proposed Bus Bill would provide the option for combined authority areas with directly-elected mayors to be responsible for the running of their local bus services.
The administration’s Energy Bill will remove the need for energy secretary consent for large onshore wind farms above 50 megawatts.
This will put local planning authorities back in the driving seat. The National Planning Policy Framework will be changed to give effect to the manifesto commitment that local communities should have the final say on planning applications for onshore wind farms.
Also listed in the Queen’s Speech is a High-Speed (London-West Midlands) Bill which would give the government deemed planning permission for the new high-speed rail link between London and the West Midlands. This includes CPO powers.
A Wales Bill would devolve powers to Welsh Ministers for the consenting of energy schemes both onshore and offshore of up to 350 megawatts capacity.
PM David Cameron called the legislative programme of more than 25 bills “challenging but doable; optimistic but realistic”.
Access GOV.uk’s dedicated section on the Queen’s Speech.
Roger Milne
Official statistics released this week show that 40,340 new homes were started in England during the first three months of this year, the highest quarterly number since 2007.
The figures show that the momentum from 2014, which saw 137,310 new homes started, up 10 per cent on 2013 and 60 per cent from the low point in 2009, appears to be gathering speed.
The figures also indicated that seasonally adjusted house building starts in England were estimated at 40,300 in the first quarter of 2015, a 31 per cent increase compared to the previous quarter.
The seasonally adjusted level of starts in the March quarter 2015 increased by 11 per cent on the same period a year earlier.
Seasonally adjusted completions were estimated at 34,040 in Q1 2015, 10 per cent higher than the previous quarter. The seasonally adjusted level of completions in the first three months of this year increased by 21 per cent on the same quarter a year earlier.
Private enterprise housing starts (seasonally adjusted) were 30 per cent higher in Q1 2015 than the previous quarter, while starts by housing associations were 36 per cent higher.
Seasonally adjusted private enterprise completions increased by seven per cent and housing association completions increased by 24 per cent compared the previous quarter.
Housing and planning minister Brandon Lewis said: “House building is at the heart of our plan to ensure the recovery reaches all parts of our country.
“These figures show these efforts are reaping results, with house building starts having more than doubled since 2009, and completions at their highest for nearly six years.”
View the release document (PDF, 1.39MB).
Roger Milne
An outline planning application has been submitted to Wiltshire Council by Ashton Park Trowbridge and Persimmon Homes for a mixed-use urban extension including 2,500 homes in south-east Trowbridge.
The Ashton Park Urban Extension application, which also includes proposals for the Yarnbrook and West Ashton Relief Road, is supported by a master plan which was the subject of consultation with the local community in 2013/2014 while the Wiltshire core strategy was at an advanced stage of preparation.
The core strategy was adopted in January and the council secured government funding to contribute to the costs of the road.
Ashton Park is a key strategic allocation in the core strategy and is fundamental to delivering the council’s housing and employment requirements over the next 10 years.
The application provides for 2,500 new homes and 15 hectares of employment and retail activity, including a business park and two local centres.
Sites for a new secondary school and two primary schools are among the community facilities proposed. The proposals include an extensive network of open spaces linking to the Peoples Park and town centre.
A spokesman for the developers said: “We look forward to working with the council and interested parties to secure an early planning permission so that the development can come forward in a planned manner and generate further investment into Trowbridge as well as improving the strategic highway network along the A350.”
View further information about the proposed development on the Wiltshire Council website
Roger Milne
Many of England’s top wildlife sites are under threat from pollution, inappropriate grazing (particularly by deer) and the impact of invasive species.
That’s the assessment of a report just published as part of Natural England’s project to establish the long-term management of the country’s 338 Natura 2000 sites. These include Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). Most are also Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
The initiative, known as the improvement programme for England’s Natura 2000 sites (IPENS) project, sets out a blueprint for the long-term management of these designated sites.
They include some of the country’s most familiar landscapes including the Northumberland coast, the New Forest, the Norfolk Broads and Salisbury Plain.
There are 338 Natura 2000 sites in England, in both marine and terrestrial locations, covering more than two million hectares.
A site improvement plan has been produced covering every site. The plans present the best available evidence in support of actions required to achieve and maintain sites in a good condition. More than 6,000 specific actions have been identified in the individual plans.
These include the need to draw up local plans to improve habitat connectivity, more adaptive coastal management and a programme of both lake and river restoration.
Dr Andy Clements, Natural England board member and director of the British Trust for Ornithology, said: “England has a diverse range of habitats resulting in a wonderfully rich and varied wildlife. The IPENS project has enabled Natural England, the Environment Agency and other partners to more effectively target our conservation efforts on Natura 2000 network sites and surrounding areas.”
Roger Milne
Energy watchdog Ofgem has opened investigations to see if five generators provided false or misleading information to National Grid about planning consents for some of their proposed generating units that took part in the December 2014 capacity auction.
The companies being investigated are Adret Ltd, Alkane Energy UK, Berangere Ltd, GF Power Peaking Ltd and Power Balancing Service Ltd.
A condition of participation in the first-ever auction last year was that any new-build generating units put forward had to have already secured planning approval.
The Capacity Market is part of the government’s reforms intended to ensure sufficient capacity on the system to keep the lights on. National Grid runs an annual auction to decide which generators and providers of demand-side response will be awarded a capacity agreement, in return for providing capacity at times of system stress.
An Ofgem spokesperson said: “The opening of these investigations does not imply that we have made any findings about non-compliance.”
GF Power Peaking Ltd secured capacity agreements for all nine of its new-build generators; Berangere Ltd (formerly registered as GFE 2015 Ltd) secured capacity agreements for all three of its new-build generators; Adret Ltd (formerly registered as GFE 2017 Ltd) secured capacity agreements for two out of three of its new-build generators in the capacity auction; Alkane Energy secured capacity agreements for nine of its ten new-build generators in the auction and, finally, Power Balancing Services Ltd secured capacity agreements for four of its six generating units.
Roger Milne
Greater Cambridge local plan hiatus
Planning inspectors considering the local plans for the greater Cambridge area have recommended that examination of the strategies should be suspended while the planning authorities do more work on the housing provision and the sustainability appraisals involved in the focus on new settlements.
However, the inspectors have stressed that this should not be interpreted as “an indication that further releases of green belt land would be necessary to ensure soundness”.
The inspectors questioned whether the way Cambridge City Council and South Cambridgeshire District Council have assessed the number of new homes needed has taken account of market signals such as house prices and affordability, a requirement of new national planning guidance published after both councils had already worked with communities for over two years to prepare plans and were ready to submit them to government.
The submitted local plan for Cambridge included provision for 21,100 more jobs and 14,000 new homes. The plan submitted by South Cambridgeshire plan included proposals for 22,000 new jobs and 19,000 new homes up until 2031.
View the Cambridge City Council press release.
Pickles knighted for services to local government
Eric Pickles, the former Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, is being granted a knighthood for his service as an MP and to local government. He also has a new role as anti-corruption ‘tsar’, Downing Street has announced.
Pickles has been MP for Brentwood and Ongar since 1992 and served as chairman of the Conservative Party from 2009 to 2010.
Before entering Parliament he was leader of Bradford Council from 1988 to 1990 after first becoming a councillor in 1979.
Go-ahead for Lancashire landfill extension
Communities Secretary Greg Clark has approved a Development Consent Order for the proposed extension of the Whitemoss landfill site at Skelmersdale, Lancashire.
The DCO – the first approved by the new Secretary of State – is for the construction of new hazardous waste management facilities at the site. This will involve the construction of new landfill void to the west of the existing landfill site for the disposal of hazardous waste together with associated development.
The project is earmarked for land in the green belt and was viewed as inappropriate development.
However, Clark agreed with the three planning inspectors who examined the proposals that there were “very special circumstances” which justified approval for the scheme which met national policy objectives, was in a suitable location and was planned to have a limited (20-year) lifespan before being restored.
View further information on the National Infrastructure planning website.
Brecon Beacon barn conversion charges row
Brecon Beacons National Park Authority has come under fire for proposals to triple the planning charge for dealing with barn conversions.
Groups including the Country Landowners’ Association have expressed concern about the Authority’ s policy on barn conversions and a move to set a fee of £90,000 per conversion.
View the consultation draft (PDF).
Call to protect tranquil areas
Conservationists have argued that national data and mapping are needed to protect most tranquil parts of England.
New research from the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), just published, shows that better data collection and a new indicator of tranquility are needed to increase protection for England’s most peaceful areas.
In surveying a range of authorities, from National Parks to borough councils, CPRE’s ‘Give peace a chance’ report shows that 90 per cent of authorities would like better guidance and new data to develop tranquility policies.
More than 90 per cent of respondents support the case for new national tranquility maps, which CPRE believes could greatly help local authorities when new infrastructure projects are planned.
View the CPRE’s ‘Give peace a chance’ report.
North Yorkshire fracking proposal submitted
Proposals to frack for shale gas in North Yorkshire have been submitted to the county council.
Third Energy has applied to fracture underground rocks at a site near the village of Kirby Misperton in Ryedale and then pump gas from the field.
The site, in the Vale of Pickering, is close to the Flamingo Land theme park and holiday resort. Protests against Third Energy’s plans have already been launched by local residents under the banner “Frack Free Ryedale”.
View Third Energy’s press release.
Wiltshire solar farm appeal dismissed
A planning inspector has backed Wiltshire Council and dismissed an appeal by solar farm developer Sun Edison for a 12-megawatt array on land at Little Chatfield close to listed buildings.
The proposed scheme is a mile from the Norrington Solar Farm, which although developed had its planning application quashed earlier this year after a legal challenge.
View the decision notice (PDF).
London round-up
- A new report has proposed that London’s Mayor should have a discretionary power to determine all planning applications for 50 homes or more in a borough for a set period of time if, over a three-year period, the borough fails to reach its annual averaged house building target and cannot demonstrate it is trying to improve its performance. That’s the headline recommendation of a London First document: ‘Carrots and Sticks: a targets and incentives approach to getting more homes built in London’, laying out new measures that could help solve the capital’s housing crisis. Also proposed is a new financial incentive – called the London Housing Delivery Bonus – to encourage boroughs to accommodate more new homes in their area. Co-authored with planning consultancy Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners, the report shows that only 18 out of 33 London boroughs met or exceeded their annual targets between 2010 and 2013, dropping to only 12 out of 33 boroughs between 2003 and 2013.
- London Mayor Boris Johnson has issued detailed advice – in the shape of Social Infrastructure Planning Guidance – to ensure the conurbation has the schools, hospitals, open spaces and places of worship it needs to flourish.
- Meanwhile, Johnson has also asked developers to respond to proposals to redevelop Albert Island, a slab of land owned by the Greater London Authority in London’s Royal Docks, where there is the potential to create hundreds of new jobs and build vital new marine facilities.
View the Social Infrastructure Planning Guidance (PDF).
Stafford access road project moves forward
A £35m proposed access road in Stafford has received the backing of the county council’s cabinet and will be the subject of a planning application.
The route is being partly funded by £16.1m from a government growth deal. Other funding is coming from the Local Enterprise Partnership and the council itself.
The Stafford Western Access Route will be a new road connecting the A518 Newport Road to the A34 Foregate Street
The road, between Martin Drive and Grey Friars Place, will link into a further section of carriageway being built by developers who are building to build 2,200 homes to the west of Stafford.
View more information on the Stafford Western Access Route.
Lake District bangs the drum for World Heritage status
A bid for the Lake District to win World Heritage status has been backed by local councils, tourism chiefs, businesses and charities and supported by a detailed report arguing the case for the sub-region’s inclusion on the Unesco list. This will be presented to the government before a formal submission to the UN body in 2016.
View more information on the Lake District website.
Heritage site funding
Lottery funding worth nearly £100m is being given to nine heritage sites, including projects to preserve Britain’s scientific and technological history.
One of the biggest awards – worth £12.1m – is for Jodrell Bank in Cheshire one of the birthplaces of radio astronomy.
In addition, the funding will mean:
- £8m to revamp the Science Museum’s extensive Medicine Galleries
- £9.3m to restore and open up Derby Silk Mill in the Derwent Valley
- £10m to make Great Central Railway a unique double-track ‘preserved’ railway between Loughborough and Leicester
- £9.5m to digitise the British Library’s Save our Sounds Collection
- £10.3m to redevelop Dorset County Museum
- £12.4m to restore Lincoln Cathedral
- £15m to refurbish Glasgow’s award-wining Burrell Collection
- £11m to transform East London’s the Geffrye Museum
View more information on the Heritage Lottery Funding website.
Exeter homes scheme sorted
Communities Secretary Greg Clark has confirmed his predecessor’s ‘minded to allow’ decision involving Millwood Homes (Devon) Ltd’s appeal over proposals for 420 new homes and two care homes on land at Pinn Hill near Exeter originally refused by East Devon District Council.
As part of this successful appeal determination, the developer will be expected to pay an increased contribution for each new dwelling which will be used for nearby Special Protection Areas and a Special Area of Conservation.
View the decision letter and Inspector’s Report.
Snub for ex-PM Heath’s Salisbury garden plans
Plans for events to be staged in the garden of the former home of Prime Minister Sir Edward Heath in Salsbury have been turned down by Wiltshire Council.
The Sir Edward Heath Charitable Foundation wanted to stage 24 events a year for up to 150 people at Arundells, in Cathedral Close, Salisbury. But the planning committee refused the proposal on the grounds of the impact it would have on neighbours despite officers recommending the use should go-ahead.
View more information about Arundells.
Kent council mulls Manston airfield CPO
The new UKIP-led Thanet District Council has confirmed it is reviewing an earlier decision not to pursue the compulsory purchase of the Manston Airport site in Kent.
The council held an extraordinary meeting to decide if it should review the decision made by the previous administration.
Kent County Council has said it cannot support a compulsory purchase order on the information currently available.
The airport closed in May 2014 and several months later, a majority stake was sold to Chris Musgrave and Trevor Cartner for redevelopment.
View more information on the Thanet District Council website.
Appeal Court judges spell out why Luton’s legal challenge failed
The Court of Appeal has given its reasons for rejecting Luton Borough Council’s challenge to the grant of planning permission by a neighbouring authority, Central Bedfordshire, for a controversial urban extension at Houghton Regis.
Roger Milne
Planning Portal Blog 