You might be interested to know that we have re-jigged our Regional Account Management team (commonly referred to as RAMs) for 2010/11.
Rather than operating as a single team offering a broad range of support across LPAs and Agents we have decided to focus our team in order to deliver better more defined results. As a result we now have a RAM and a CAM team.
The RAMs will offer suport to LPAs and the CAMs (the C is for corporate) will support businesses.
At the moment the CAM team are focusssing their not inconsiderable talents on helping convert from paper to electronic applications businesses who submit planning applications very regularly. They are especially focussing on companies with several offices who may perhaps have adopted e-planning in some but not all their locations.
That said the team would be delighted to hear from any business that may need support e-enabling.
Contact Stuart Mockford at stuart.mockford@planningportal.gsi.gov.uk for more information.
Chris
I couldn’t think of an amusing title without offending someone so there you have it.
The details of new events dates for planners in Wales have been published on the Planning Portal. They include workshops and forums aimed at agents who regularly submit online applications and also first-time users.
More details and how to book can be found on the Portal cer fedda
The following sets out our objectives and focus for the coming year assuming no major change in either Government policy or funding. Clearly if that happens I will redraft and publish as soon as possible.
We will:
• continue to ensure our existing infrastructure enables citizens and communities to engage in planning.
• continue to drive increased numbers to submit planning applications electronically, aiming for 50-60% of all applications online by March 2011.
• focus our technical resources on improving and simplifying 1APP for both business and citizen users.
• deliver Portal 2 our full redesign in Summer and as a consequence audit and prune the vast amount of content on the site.
• use our new functionality to encourage private sector partners to develop tools and services to support planning improvement.
• work with DirectGov to improve planning information for citizens.
• continue to support and encourage take-up of the e-Consultation Hub.
And finally
Recognising the constraints on public funding, we will seek to generate around £1M in revenue this year, increasing over time to become self-sufficient through value-added services and partnerships that will ensure that core services remain free for all.
While we’re never ones to blow our own trumpet (only joking), I thought I’d tell you how the Portal has played its part in a major marketing campaign that has seen more than 200 painted elephant sculptures hit the streets of London.
Image by David Hone
London-based charity www.elephantfamily.org used the Planning Portal’s online service to submit applications to place 258 painted elephants all over the capital.
The campaign, which runs between May and July, aims to raise awareness about the endangered Asian elephant.
Find out more and view the image gallery
Do you have a newsworthy use of the Portals services? Let me know and I’ll think about telling the world.
Anglian Home Improvements began using the Portal’s online planning application system shortly after it launched in 2004 in a bid to reduce the time spent on long-winded postal applications.
It became the first large company to commit to submitting all of its planning applications online and earlier in the year passed the 5,000 application mark.
Stuart Mockford (right) our Head of Corporate Accounts was there when Phillipa Forrester (off the telly) presented Shaun McAllister (left), Conservatories Director at Anglian with a small memento of their achievement.
We recently launched the latest in our series of visual walk-throughs of popular household building projects, in England. The Mini-guide to Conservatories can now be found on the Portal alongside the existing guides: Extensions, Loft Conversions, Outbuildings and Porches
New Approved Documents (APDs) have been published on the Planning Portal to support the requirements of the Building Regulations.
They can be accessed below:
• Part F (ventilation) of schedule 1
• Part J (combustion appliances and fuel storage systems) of schedule 1
• The energy efficiency requirements, including Part L (conservation of fuel and power) of schedule 1
In addition to the new APDs – which apply from 1 October 2010 – new compliance guides to support Part L and F have also been published. They can be accessed below:
• Part F – The Domestic Ventilation Compliance Guide 2010 Edition (valid from 1 October 2010)
• Part L Building Services Compliance guides (valid from 1 October 2010)
O.K we’re back, out of purdah and on with the job.
Not that we have ever stopped, we just couldn’t talk about it and you’ll never know how hard that is for an inveterate Portal publicist like me.
During the last few weeks we have collated our results for the year just gone and completed our planning for the year ahead.
In the next few days I will report progress on key projects such as Portal 2.0 and set out the challenge for 2010/11
Before setting out those plans I’d first like to take a moment to reflect on our achievements for 2009/10.
179,179 planning applications processed April – March
Almost 45% of planning Applications submitted online via the Portal in March
£65M Savings delivered inc’ £43M savings to Business
55% of Planning Appeals processed
1 Million Building Regulations Downloads
690,000 monthly visits
280,448 Registered Users
62,000 e-news subscribers
And
2,200 tonnes of CO2 Saved
We have just implemented a whole raft of changes to 1App and guidance in respect of legislative changes which have taken place today.
For an overview please visit the Portal:
If you are thinking of advertising on the Portal or sponsoring the Interactive house please contact:
Beccy Greenfield on 0117 372 8901 or sales@planningportal.gov.uk
Planning Portal Blog 