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
Sorry, sorry, sorry,
I’ve been away a bit longer than I intended.
Recovery from my operation took a bit more out of me than I anticipated and with a full year end and business planning workload to fit into a staged return, something had to give.
Now that I am back into the fray, we’re about to go into Purdah and I’ll need to put communication on to simmer for a while.
We will continue to use the blog for important technical and service announcements but that will I’m afraid be that until we’re out the other side.
In the mean time feel free to email me at chris.kendall@planningportal.gsi.gov.uk
All my best,
Chris
Hello folks,
sorry for the paucity of posts in the last couple of weeks, but I hope to be back in the saddle after my kidney op by the beginning of next week. Second thoughts; probably not a saddle, more of a comfy chair.
Regards,
Chris
In Chris’ absence I thought you may be interested to know that last month was another record-breaker for online applications. The total number submitted online through the Portal was 16,129… the highest total number since the online application service was launched. So far, March looks like it may be higher again, so watch this space…
Sarah Chilcott, Head of Sales and Marketing
Planning Portal Blog 