In my last post, I highlighted an issue which was affecting some users as emails were being sent from our system, but weren’t being received. This was stopping some users from re-setting their accounts. Our supplier has been investigating and discovered a problem with one of the (apologies, tech speak alert) IP addresses on the email server – basically the problem meant that some email systems were blocking the emails as they viewed the source as suspicious. The supplier has put in a fix and it now seems to be working for BT Connect customers.
If you are a BT Connect customer, you should now be able to go through the activation process again and get into your account. Don’t forget you start this by trying to login (on the top blue bar) and then you will be prompted to set-up your account.
Unfortunately, there still appears to be an issue for other BT customers and some other email providers. We are still working on an urgent fix and/or workaround and I’ll keep you posted.
Firstly some apologies…yesterday was not as smooth as anyone here wanted, despite a huge amount of effort over a number of months and meticulous planning. Many thousands of users are up and running on the system, but an unacceptable number are still not. We’re working through your calls and emails as quickly as we can and the whole team (not just our Support Desk) are helping and resolving problems where we can. We’ve also updated our FAQs which you may want to look at first.
Secondly, here is where we are with the recurring issues:
(1) Redirects from our gov.uk to our co.uk site weren’t correctly applied by the supplier who manages the old domain name. This was fixed yesterday and the redirects are now working across the whole site, including PDFs which seemed to still be an issue this morning.
(2) Re-setting accounts has been a problem for some. This had to be done because we were unable to securely migrate encrypted passwords to the new site and needed to protect your data. There appear to be 2 separate issues here:
- The first was a problem with some email settings which wouldn’t allow a link to be clicked. Yesterday we added text to the emails as well as the link, so that you can cut and paste the text as an alternative.
- The second issue is that emails are being sent from our system but don’t seem to be arriving with some users. We’re putting in a secure workaround to get affected users back up and running asap, whilst we do some further investigation into this.
If you are still experiencing problems, we really do appreciate your continued patience. I’ll continue to provide updates here.
*Update at 14:10
There have been some issues affecting access this morning:
- Our third party supplier did not correctly apply the redirects from the gov.uk to the co.uk site which means that some people have been having trouble finding us. They advise that this has now been done but it does take up to 4 hours to appear across the internet. This has meant that links from search engines and LPA sites have been broken, but they will be restored as soon as the redirects are up and running. LPAs were notified of the move to co.uk and many were involved in the testing, however no-one foresaw the problems with the redirects.
- Some users are still reporting problems with access, mostly on IE 11 or Safari. Chrome appears to be fine. If you are experiencing this, please try clearing your cache/temporary internet files.
- Some users are unable to click on the account set up link in the automated email. This is due to email security settings. Please speak to your IT team (if you have one). If you have a second email address associated with the account, then our Support team can help you while we put an alternate authentication method in place. The account set-up had to be put in place as we weren’t able to migrate passwords for security reasons.*
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The eagle-eyed amongst you will have spotted that the new site is now live at www.planningportal.co.uk .
A huge thanks to the Portal team and our suppliers old and new who spent their Easter weekend working hard to make it happen.
More than 1,000 of you have already set up your accounts on the new system. If you haven’t, you can do it at any time by following the instructions in my last post.
We really hope you like it and would welcome your feedback on future improvements. Already on the priority list:
- An increase to the 5MB attachment limit where it is feasible for LPAs to receive and process the files
- A building control application service
- A secure method for applicants to pay directly for applications submitted by their agents
- Further improvements to the new workspace function and other improvements just for professional/corporate users
- A redesigned interactive house
Hopefully, you will know by now that we are launching the new Planning Portal website over the Easter weekend (24-27 March 2016).
Just a reminder that the existing site will be taken offline tonight (Thursday 24 March) at 17:00 and the new site will be available from 09:00 on Tuesday 29 March at www.planningportal.co.uk. Don’t forget to update your bookmarks!
If you are a registered user, your account details and any draft/submitted application data which has been modified since 1 July 2015 will be transferred to the new site. However, you will need to perform a quick set-up before you access the new application service for the first time:
- When you first sign in to the new Planning Portal you will be asked to ‘Set-up your account’.
- Your user name and registered email address will then be displayed. If these are correct and you still have access to the email address please click on the ‘Confirm account and send activation email’ button.
- The system will then send you an email. You will need to follow the instructions in the email to complete the process.
- Once activated, you will be sent a new temporary password that will need to be changed the first time you sign in.
And that’s it! Once you’re in, you will have access to all the functions and facilities you are familiar with but will quickly notice some significant improvements and a new look and feel.
We have published a series of short videos highlighting the new features on the blog if you want to take a look while you are tucking into your chocolate eggs.
Have a good Easter!
Ministers confirmed this week that they are considering setting a five-year time limit on permissions in principle (PiPs). This would be a matter for secondary legislation, peers learnt during further detailed consideration of the housing and planning bill.
This came during a marathon session of the legislation which kept peers up until half-past midnight on Tuesday night discussing the finer points of PiP and brownfield registers.
Government minister Baroness Williams of Trafford stressed that PiPs could not be granted retrospectively. She told the Upper Chamber: “Permission in principle, granted in allocation in locally prepared plans and registers, will apply only to those adopted once the permission in principle measure is fully in force.
“The government have no intention to apply the measure retrospectively to site allocations in existing local development plans. It will be possible to grant PiP only going forward, so existing plans and site allocations will not be affected”.
She insisted that decisions on PiPs would be a matter for local authorities, their communities and that the Secretary of State would have “no direct role in choosing specific sites to grant PiP to”.
The minister said there would be provision to modify or revoke a PiP, but only in “extreme circumstances”.
She also said that ministers would expect local authorities to make clear, when they give permission in principle “the matters they would expect to see covered in an application for technical details”.
She reiterated: “PiP will be granted only where the development is considered to be locally acceptable, in line with local and national policy”.
Peers were told that entering a site on a brownfield register “would not automatically grant permission in principle” according to another government minster Baroness Evans of Bowes Park.
Baroness Williams also told peers that the government’s plan to allow for planning fees to be set locally would not be subject to the hybrid procedure, rather the affirmative procedure: a much less time-consuming system.
View more information about the housing and planning bill
Roger Milne
The government has announced it will consult on the recommendations in the report of the Local Plans Expert Group until 27 April.
The report was published at the same time as the Budget last week. The Group reported an almost unanimous consensus about the problems facing local plan preparation.
These centre on agreeing housing need; difficulties with the duty to cooperate (including the distribution of unmet housing needs); a lack of political will and commitment; a lack of clarity on key issues, particularly SHMAs, strategic planning, green belt and environmental constraints; too many changes of policy, advice and factual changes in forecasts; and a lack of guidance, support and resources.
Developers and professional planners have given a broad welcome to the group’s proposals for shorter and faster plans which are more effective on growth and ensure proper community engagement.
President of the Royal Town Planning Institute Phil Williams said: “We want to see shorter, more proportionate and responsive, local plans and a greater focus on planning collaboratively across boundaries.
“Overall, the conclusions of the report will provide planners with greater certainty, for example, by allowing for judgments to be made on simpler evidence bases, and being subject to more flexible tests of soundness by the Inspectorate.
“We are also very pleased that the group has acknowledged the role that central government can play by taking steps to incentivise the development of growth points to ensure that housing needs are met”.
Ministers have made it clear that they want to see the planning system move towards a more zonal and ‘red lining’ approach where local authorities use their local plans to signal their development strategy from the outset and make maximum use of permissions in principle to give early certainty and reduce the number of stage developers must go through to get planning permission.
Roger Milne
Ministers have confirmed plans to provide greater flexibility over the deployment of mobile phone infrastructure by modifying the existing planning regime. This follows a consultation exercise carried out last year.
In a written parliamentary statement Planning Minister Brandon Lewis insisted the changes “were vital for our continued economic prosperity and social inclusion for all”.
He explained that where a site was already used for telecommunications infrastructure, permitted development rights would be extended to allow taller ground-based masts to be built.
“The threshold for new ground-based masts will increase from 15 metres to 25 metres in non-protected areas and a new permitted development right allowing new masts of up to 20 metres will be introduced in protected areas. “
He said that in order to ensure that there was “appropriate community engagement” a prior approval system would apply where a new mast was being built.
He went on to say that operators would also be able to increase the height of existing masts to 20 metres in both non-protected and protected areas without a prior approval; between 20 metres and 25 metres in non-protected areas with a prior approval.
Lewis also stated that operators would have a new automatic right to upgrade the infrastructure on their masts in protected areas to align with existing rights in non-protected areas. However, there will be a height restriction of 20 metres on highways and in residential areas.
He told MPs that the administration would lift restrictions on the number of antennae allowed on structures above 30 metres, while removing the prior approval requirement for individual antenna greater than six metres in height in non-protected areas and for two small cell antenna on residential premises in both non-protected and protected areas “as the visual impact is limited.”
Lewis promised the Commons that the Government would work with the industry and interested parties to strengthen the sector-owned code of practice to ensure best practice was always applied “when it comes to the siting and design of mobile infrastructure.”
The minister said the planning changes will come into effect from summer 2016 and would apply to England only.
Roger Milne
Following last week’s Budget announcements, which included a commitment for a statutory three month deadline for Secretary of State Decisions on called-in applications and recovered appeals, the Department for Communities and Local Government, has launched a number of key initiatives.
These involve starter homes, garden settlements and further reforms to the compulsory purchase order regime.
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published a Starter Homes Land Fund prospectus. This invites expressions of interest from local authorities outside of London to form partnerships with the Homes and Communities Agency to use the £1.2bn fund available to remediate brownfield sites earmarked for starter homes.
Meanwhile construction industry analyst Barbour ABI has been awarded a contract to provide DCLG with data regarding starter home projects from planning application stage to the beginning of work on site.
Separately DCLG has published a prospectus setting out how it will help local areas interested in garden villages, towns and cities and invited expressions of interest from local authorities who want to create new communities based on garden city principles.
In addition the DCLG has started consulting on a package of proposals for further reforms to the CPO regime.
These set out a clearer way to identify market value when agreeing levels of compensation. They also put mayoral development corporations on the same footing as new town and urban development corporations for the purposes of assessing compensation.
The package is also designed to simplify the process by enabling transport and regeneration bodies to make combined orders. Also involved will be the repeal of redundant legislation.
View the Starter Home policy paper
View the Locally-led garden villages, towns and cities policy paper
View the Further reform of the compulsory purchase system consultation documents
Roger Milne
Welsh planning minister Carl Sargeant has written to all chief planning officers highlighting the importance of not being too swayed by visual and amenity issues when considering renewable and low carbon energy schemes.
His letter said: “I appreciate that visual and amenity impact on surrounding communities and properties is an important issue (and policies are in place to protect against unacceptably adverse impacts) and that discussions of this nature can become quite emotive during the planning process.
“However planning decisions need to be taken in the wider public interest and in a rational way, informed by evidence, where these issues are balanced against other factors.”
The letter highlighted that the Energy Saving Trust has been commissioned by the government to deliver training for local planning authority members and officers on community renewables.
Sargeant also noted that in England permitted development rights for commercial properties have increased so that up to 1 megawatt solar panels can be installed on roofs subject to a prior approval procedure.
“I want to see if there is an alternative option available in Wales that will be less cumbersome for developers and those in the business community seeking to generate their own energy.
“We recently commissioned Arcadis to carry out research in this area and this is due to be completed by the Spring of 2016.”
He added: “The Welsh government is committed to using all using all possible levers it has to increase the supply of renewable energy in Wales for the benefit of the next generation and I expect local planning authorities to take the initiative in delivering sustainable outcomes for future generations.”
Roger Milne
Scottish rail prospects
HS2 Ltd has published a report on broad options for upgraded and high speed railways to the north of England and Scotland. This explores options to improve journey times from Edinburgh and Glasgow to cities further south, including options that could reduce journey times to London to three hours or under. It also considers how additional passenger and freight capacity could be met.
The report considers various options for building on HS2, including:
- Upgrades within the footprint of the existing railway
- New high speed bypasses of constrained track sections
- Complete new lines on either the east or west of the Pennines.
These alternatives range in cost between £17 and £43bn to reach a three hour journey time, although some are capable of being constructed in stages.
Deprivation counts
Latest analysis of data from the 2011 Census by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that the 28 English towns and cities out of 109 under scrutiny with the largest percentage of deprived areas were in the North or Midlands of England.
Oldham and West Bromwich both had over 60 per cent of their local areas ranked in the most deprived 20 per cent of areas in England.
The towns and cities with the largest percentage of least deprived areas of England were Guildford, Woking and St Albans which each had over 50 per cent of their so-called Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) ranked in the least deprived 20 per cent of areas in England.
Brownfield best says CPRE report
Brownfield sites are being developed more than half a year faster than greenfield sites, according to research published by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE).
This follows on from CPRE research carried out in late 2014, which found that there are enough suitable brownfield sites for at least one million new homes.
The new research involved logging development activity at 15 local authorities across England between March 2012 and December 2015.
Construction consultants Glenigan collected and analysed the data which revealed that the time between planning permission being granted and construction work starting was generally the same for brownfield and greenfield sites. However work on brownfield sites was completed more than six months quicker.
CPRE insisted this work illustrated that prioritising investment in brownfield sites was a highly effective way of building the new homes needed.
The campaign group claimed the research undermined claims that brownfield was either too slow or inconvenient to develop in comparison to greenfield sites.
Growth deal funding
Local leaders wanting to boost skills, support business and build more homes will be offered the chance to apply for the latest round of Growth Deals worth billions of pounds, Communities Secretary Greg Clark said this week.
Under the Growth Deals, England’s 39 Local Enterprise Partnerships, made up of council leaders and business representatives, will be able to apply for a share of £1.8bn to support projects in their areas that boost local economic growth and create jobs.
The money forms part of the government’s £12bn Local Growth Fund, which is already being used to support successful projects, chosen by communities themselves.
Tunbridge Wells town centre revamp
Proposals for a £70m revamp of the Royal Victoria Place shopping centre in Tunbridge Wells have been approved by the borough council.
The town centre scheme, which will involve the demolition of some existing buildings, will add an extra 3,395 square metres of floor space and provide new shops, restaurants and an eight screen rooftop cinema.
Clark unmoved by Staffordshire turbine project
Communities Secretary Greg Clark has agreed with the inspector who held a recovered appeal inquiry over a two-turbine wind project earmarked for farm land at Haunton, Staffordshire and dismissed the proposal.
Clark’s decision letter said the scheme was in conflict with the 2015 Lichfield Development Plan, would have an adverse impact on the character and appearance of the area and that the turbines would stand out as “alien industrial features” in a pleasing rural landscape.
View the recovered appeal: Haunton Manor Farm, Haunton, Staffordshire
Ferdinand bids to score as developer
Former England captain Rio Ferdinand has unveiled government-backed plans to partner Central Bedfordshire Council and regenerate Kingsland, one of the most deprived areas in the town of Houghton Regis, with a world-class sports academy, education and community facilities as well as 1,000 new homes.
Legacy, the former Manchester United defender’s regeneration company set up in 2015 with footballers Mark Noble (West Ham) and Bobby Zamora (Brighton), will now work up the scheme for a 22-hectare site in an area already approved for major urban extensions.
The site includes various education establishments, the council’s Adult Skills Service and Houghton Regis Leisure Centre.
Council Leader James Jamieson said “Kingsland will help further regenerate Houghton Regis, an important town in which we are already committed to two planned major extensions. These will provide up to 7,000 new homes, 40-hectares of employment land, and a range of retail, leisure and other facilities, plus community infrastructure, including education, sports and green spaces”
London round-up
- London Mayor Boris Johnson has published a report which claims the environmental cost of expanding Heathrow is so enormous that the only credible solution to Britain’s aviation dilemma is to pursue plans for a new hub airport to the east of the capital, away from populated areas.
- Consolidated Developments has been granted planning consent by Camden Council, for the final piece of its £90m St Giles Circus development in the West End. The scheme includes new buildings and refurbished listed buildings and will provide both an 800-saeater music venue and a smaller 280 venue at the site of the former 12 Bar Blues Club in Denmark Street. Cartoon drawings and graffiti scrawled by Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten on property in the same street has helped two buildings (no 6 and 7) be awarded Grade 2* listed status.
- British Land has submitted a planning application for a 32-storey tower in Finsbury Avenue Square in the City of London despite protests from heritage groups about the demolition of the existing building, which houses the British headquarters of UBS.
- The Royal Docks and Beckton Riverside Opportunity Area Planning Framework has been published and is now out for consultation. It focuses on releasing surplus industrial land and intensifying other sites, which City Hall believes will open up further developable land, potentially leading to the delivery of 24,000 homes and 60,000 new jobs.
- International law firm Berwin Leighton Paisner (BLP) has been formally appointed to advise Tideway, the new company created to finance and deliver London’s £4.2bn Thames Tideway Tunnel. BLP will provide expertise in planning, environment, compulsory purchase and asset protection as well as real estate advice.
Legal round-up
- The Court of Appeal has ruled on the meaning of the expression in paragraph 49 of the NPPF, “relevant policies for the supply of housing”. The importance of the paragraph is that if the local planning authority cannot demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites, such policies are not to be considered as up-to-date. The ruling follows some seven or more High Court decisions offering significantly differing takes on the import of the paragraph. The two cases at the centre of this judgment involved Suffolk Coastal District Council and Cheshire East Council.
- The Court of Appeal has upheld a challenge brought by traders against a High Court ruling that the decision by former Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to confirm a compulsory purchase order for Shepherd’s Bush Market in west London was lawful. In confirming the CPO made by Hammersmith & Fulham Council Pickles had gone against the recommendation of a planning inspector.
- Leicester University has won a High Court battle over Oadby & Wigston Borough Council’s refusal to grant an application for a certificate of lawful use for a hall of residence for students and conference delegates. The planning authority’s stance had been backed by a planning inspector on appeal.
- Two north London landlords who breached planning regulations by converting a house into seven studio flats have been ordered to pay a total of £116,000 in fines and costs by Blackfriars Crown Court following action by Islington Council.
- South Cambridgeshire District Council’s decision to approve a new ground for Cambridge City FC at a green belt location at Sawston has survived a High Court challenge.
- A High Court judge has upheld a planning inspector’s decision to grant permission on appeal to a developer for a 32-dwelling scheme in Worcestershire originally refused by Wychavon District Council despite the Communities Secretary conceding that the decision should be quashed.
- Somerford Parish Council has won a High Court challenge over Cheshire East Council’s refusal to register land in its area as a village green.
- Cheshire East Council has lost its legal challenge over an appeal approval for a 150-home scheme at Wistaston which the planning authority claimed breached its green gap policy.
Roger Milne
Planning Portal Blog 