Monthly Archives: November 2010

Responding to Adrian Penfold’s review of non-planning consents, the Government said that it would immediately take practical steps to free developers from burdensome regulation and make sure that those responsible for these consents were sharing best practice. Specific initiatives include: … Continue reading →

A High Court judge has revoked the town green status given to the Markham and Little Francis area in Weymouth in 2000. Landowner Betterment Properties is proposing a housing development on the 46-acre site also known as Curtis Fields. Betterment … Continue reading →

Following the Welsh Assembly Government’s Draft Budget announcement the Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, has announced that he will continue to invest in Wales’ culture, arts, Welsh language and sport. As a result of cuts to the Welsh budget by … Continue reading →

A+DS is seeking your views on our draft Corporate Plan for 2011-14. The draft has been launched as a consultation to allow A+DS’s stakeholders to give their views on the proposals and help shape the final version of the Corporate … Continue reading →

Local authorities should actively consider pooling planning powers, sharing planning staff and carrying out much more joint working, Communities Minister Greg Clark has urged. That call came in a wide-ranging speech which charted key elements of the soon-to-be published Localism … Continue reading →

The Department for Culture Media and Sport would like to invite applications for two trustee roles at the Heritage Lottery Fund / National Heritage Memorial Fund, with applications to arrive not later than 5pm, Monday 13 December 2010 and interviews … Continue reading →

Controversial plans for the redevelopment of part of the historic core of Preston’s city centre – including the demolition of some listed buildings – has been approved by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles against the advice of the inspector who held … Continue reading →

Deadlines for the 2012 World Monuments Watch nominations has been announced: 15 March 2011. Launched in 1996 and issued every two years, the World Monuments Watch calls international attention to cultural heritage around the world that is threatened by neglect, … Continue reading →

The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has called on the Government to ensure that the quality of the built environment does not suffer as a result of the decision to withdraw funding from CABE. RIBA President Ruth Reed said: … Continue reading →

Following a change in the OS licensing agreement that has now come into effect, partners of OS will be able to compete on a level playing field for the provision of OS mapping and data. These changes should provide significant … Continue reading →

There will be a reduction of 7% in the revenue budget for Historic Scotland (HS) under the budget proposed. HS considers this can be absorbed through the merging of priorities to protect front-line service delivery through the achievement of efficiencies … Continue reading →

Under Government proposals now out for consultation local councils would have the power to set their own fees to cover the costs of handling planning applications, ending the current system where charges are set nationally. Planning authorities would not be able to make … Continue reading →

Leading local authorities with the largest number of listed buildings across the UK have joined forces to urge the Government to free them from fixed planning fees which cost taxpayers millions and in the current financial climate are unsustainable, putting the nation’s … Continue reading →

Steven Bee is being made redundant after seven years at EH after role is merged The director of planning and development at English Heritage is to be made redundant, under plans to restructure the heritage quango. Steven Bee will depart the organisation, … Continue reading →

CABE and the Asset Transfer Unit have published new guidance for local authorities and community groups on the transfer of parks and green spaces. Community-led spaces: a guide for local authorities and community groups LINK provides practical advice on the … Continue reading →

The Statistical Report 2nd Quarter 2010-2011 has been issued by the Planning Inspectorate Among other items, this records: Listed Building/Conservation Area Consent Appeals: allowed at 38% for quarter 4 of 2009-10 (finalized); 29% for Q1 2010-11 (provisional) Listed Building/Conservation Area Enforcement … Continue reading →

The Government has started consulting on key detail of its proposed New Homes Bonus scheme which could be extended to include long-term empty property. Under the scheme the Department for Communities and Local Government will match the council tax raised from new homes … Continue reading →

A new All-Party Parliamentary Group for Excellence in the Built Environment was formally launched at the Construction Industry Council’s annual summer reception, held at the Institution of Civil Engineers in July. The Chairman of the new Group, Tony Baldry MP – a former Department of the Environment Minister responsible … Continue reading →

Historic Scotland’s Free Weekend and St Andrew’s Day offer is a great opportunity to enjoy a free family day out from Saturday 27th to Tuesday 30th November 2010. Historic Scotland – Events: LINK

CABE is to be wound up ‘in its present form’ by March 2011 following the loss of its DCMS funding. Statement from CABE: On 20 October, the Government decided as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review to withdraw funding from CABE. This will take … Continue reading →

CABE asked seven public figures to respond to the ideas raised in People and places: public attitudes to beauty. Beauty and public policy  – beauty may be contentious and difficult to define, but it’s also one of the great goods of … Continue reading →

The National Grid and Sheffield City Council have decided to celebrate one of the city’s Brutalist beauties by bathing it in coloured light and creating an ‘artistic focal point on the City’s ring road’. The Moore Street substation was built in the … Continue reading →

The Information Commissioner confirmed today that New Forest District Council has breached the Data Protection Act by publishing the personal data of planning applicants on its website. The news emerged after a New Forest resident complained in 2008 after council staff failed to appropriately … Continue reading →

The long awaited revision of the Code for Sustainable Homes (CSH) promotes a ‘fabric first’ approach, but stops short of reducing the carbon compliance requirements to achieve levels 5 and 6 this time round. The CSH, which is just published, … Continue reading →

Proposals for a fairer planning fees system are being set out for consultation. At the moment local council taxpayers have been left subsidising the costs of dealing with planning applications. Councils have been unable to recover the true costs of … Continue reading →