Permitted development rights for creation of medical facilities comes into effect
Emergency legislation that allows councils and health providers in England to establish facilities to support the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak came into force on 9 April.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Community groups invited to monitor public participation in planning
The national charity for the civic movement has asked communities and local authorities to provide it with feedback on how new regulations for determining planning applications during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak are being implemented.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Homes England bought land for 5,000 homes in 2019/2020
In the 2019/2020 financial year, Homes England acquired 19 sites that have the capacity to deliver 5,000 homes.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Following our recent post, the full data for March is now in and reveals some interesting detail and perhaps cause for cautious optimism. Normally, March is the busiest month for online planning application submissions, typically rising about 10 per cent on February’s totals.
As mentioned in the last post, this trend continued for the first week in March but then numbers started to decline as measures to control COVID-19 were put in place and business and local authorities had to adapt their working processes quickly.
Covid-19: Quartermain outlines government support for planning authorities in final letter as chief planner
England’s chief planner Steve Quartermain has encouraged local planning authorities to use technology to continue their service and ensure that discussions and consultations can go ahead during the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Coronavirus Act allows virtual planning committee meetings
Planning committee meetings will be able to be held virtually during restrictions implemented to stem the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19) under emergency legislation.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Decline in planning decisions and applications in England
District-level planning authorities granted 83,500 decisions in the fourth quarter of 2019, which is equivalent to 87 per cent of decisions.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
As you will have seen from our earlier posts, we have recently been putting measures in place to protect our staff whilst ensuring continuity of service during the COVID-19 outbreak. As a digital service, we have been fortunate to have a digitally skilled and mobile workforce that has adapted well to working from home. That said, it has of course been a mindset shift for all of us as everyone acclimatises to different ways of working. We’ve been monitoring the online application stats closely too, to try and understand what this means for our customers, at least in the short-term, as well as working with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Local Authorities to support the planning process across the board.
Planning Inspectorate implements 16 Rosewell recommendations
The Planning Inspectorate has updated Inquiries Review Action Plan, first published in May 2019, saying it has made ‘significant’ progress.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Regional planning framework unveiled for England’s water resources
The Environment Agency has sent out a national framework setting out how England will manage water resources to avoid shortages by 2050 – putting a huge emphasis on regional plans.
Huw Morris, The Planner
Changes tabled for Welsh listed building consent regime
The Welsh Government has proposed changes to the listed building consent regime that would make planning authorities, rather than ministers, responsible for determining certain categories.
Roger Milne, The Planner
Updated: 25/03/2020
We are mindful that applicants, agents and local authorities rely on us to enable the planning and building control application process across England and Wales. We want to offer every assurance that we are taking appropriate measures to ensure that we remain open for business and deliver our services effectively to all our customers, while protecting the health and well-being of our employees and their families.
As the spread of COVID-19 increases, we want to provide transparency and share with you the measures we are taking to ensure business operations continue. This is being reviewed daily in line with government guidance and advice.
Pincher calls on businesses to design low-carbon homes
Housing minister Christopher Pincher has invited small businesses, designers and manufacturers to come forward with ideas for low-carbon, elder-friendly homes.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Scheme to protect great crested newts extended
Natural England has rolled out a ‘strategic approach’ to great crested newt licensing across 37 local authorities to better protect the amphibian.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Welsh minister calls for modular homes to boost social housing
Factory-made ‘modular’ housing should be used to speed up the number of high-quality social and affordable homes being built across Wales, housing minister Julie James insisted this week.
Roger Milne, The Planner
Ombudsman to protect new-build buyers from poor work
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed that a New Homes Ombudsman will soon protect homebuyers from ‘shoddy building work’.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Bermondsey biscuit factory site to be regenerated
Deputy mayor for planning and regeneration Jules Pipe has approved plans for more than 1,500 homes and a secondary school in South London.
Laura Edgar, The Planner
Welsh minister clarifies policy on locally owned energy projects
Environment minister Lesley Griffiths has reiterated the administration’s commitment to encouraging more locally owned energy generation in Wales.
Roger Milne, The Planner
Update 18 March 2020:
The Beyond Somerset Sportive event that the team were due to participate in has been postponed until April 10/11 2021. However, our team of participants will endeavour to find another event and continue to train and raise money and awareness for the charity We Build the Future.
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