£3.9bn for decarbonising heat and buildings set out in Net Zero Strategy
The UK Government has committed £3.9 billion of new funding for the decarbonisation of heat and buildings as part of its Net Zero Strategy.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
13 areas in England to take part in digital planning trial
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced that 13 local planning authorities in England will trial ‘innovative’ digital tools that intend to help local people have their say in the planning process.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Lords’ ancient woodland amendment to environment bill rejected
MPs have voted against a House of Lords’ amendment to the environment bill that would have seen a minimum 50-metre buffer around ancient woodland near new development.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
In our last Planning Market Insight Report, we took a closer look at application submissions in the North East of England.
There are twelve Local Planning Authorities in the North East of England, plus the Northumberland National Park Authority, all of which fall within the four counties of County Durham, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and part of North Yorkshire.
Read more…September has been quite the month for the UK. There has been a nationwide shortage of fuel, creating long queues at the pumps and putting pressure on the manufacturing industry; the furlough scheme has come to an end after 18 months, with roughly one million people still benefiting from it throughout September 2021 (down from nine million in May 2021*) and the Bank of England predicting a slight rise in unemployment in the coming months; and finally, the end to the stamp duty holiday. There is no question amongst experts about the impact the stamp duty holiday has had on the housing market, with estate agents reporting a surge of interest in March and beyond as people rushed to complete deals before the end of the scheme.
Read more…Following 18 months with very little face-to-face contact, the Planning Portal team are beginning to get out and about, attending a variety of events throughout autumn and winter.
Read more…Khan calls in Kerslake to review London’s housing delivery
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has appointed Lord Kerslake to lead a review into further improving housing development across the capital and deliver more affordable homes.
Huw Morris, The Planner
Multi-billion pound investment gap revealed to restore nature
The UK needs to spend at least an extra £44 billion and as much as £97 billion in the next decade to protect and restore biodiversity and nature.
Huw Morris, The Planner
Agreement signed between RTPI and BAME Planners Network
The RTPI and the BAME Planners Network have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that sets out how the institute will collaborate with the network over the next three years to ensure the profession is as diverse as the communities it represents.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
The Planning Portal are back with a new webinar series – The digital future of planning and building.
Read more…Annual conference discounted tickets – available until midnight on Friday, 22 October 2021
*THIS OFFER HAS NOW EXPIRED*
Read more…Our latest Planning Market Insight Report confirms there has been a negligible change in submission numbers across England and Wales when compared to September 2020. However, Wales has seen the most significant increase in applications, with an 11 per cent rise on last year. It will come as no surprise that the South East and London have received the highest number of applications throughout the last month (11,373 and 10,650 respectively).
Read more…There is only one month to go until the start of our annual conference, 15 – 18 November 2021, delivered to you via our new conference platform.
Read more…Councils to get funding for brownfield land development
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced that £57.8 million has been allocated to 53 councils to develop brownfield land.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
‘Significant’ increase in peatland restoration and more space for nature needed, says charity
More space for nature is required in all built environments and there needs to be ‘significant’ increases of peatland restoration, according to a wildlife charity as it calls on the government to address the nature and climate crises ‘at speed’.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Report: Regenerating capital’s housing estates would deliver more homes
Regenerating London’s housing estates provides a ‘significant’ opportunity to deliver more than 90,000 new homes, according to research.
Laura Edgar, The Planner


