Monthly Archives: October 2014

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has turned down an appeal by energy producer RWE Innogy UK Ltd over a six turbine wind farm proposed for a site at Holme-on-Spalding Moor in Yorkshire refused by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, agreeing … Continue reading →

The Department for the Environment Northern Ireland (DoENI ) has launched a consultation on proposals for mechanisms of community planning delivery with a deadline for responses of 12 December.  The DoENI writes: Under local government reform, councils will have a … Continue reading →

Affordable housing statistics released by the Welsh Government this week shows that provision has risen by 18% in the previous year, and further statistics for England also echo growth. The Welsh Government writes: The statistics released today show 2,416 affordable … Continue reading →

The RTPI in Scotland is undertaking a research project into spatial planning and community planning and is calling for evidence to support this project, with responses sought by 12 December.  The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) writes: As one of … Continue reading →

New policy has been issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) regarding the siting of waste and recycling facilities, leading to a ‘brownfield first’ preference. DCLG writes: The Communities Secretary today (16 October 2014) strengthened the policy … Continue reading →

The Victorian Society (Vic Soc) has published its survey of the most Endangered Victorian and Edwardian Buildings in England and Wales, highlighting the continuing plight of architecturally important buildings throughout the country despite signs of economic recovery, while also calling … Continue reading →

After improvements which have been made to planning services at Blaby District Council, the former ‘special measures’ designation now no longer applies. Blaby District Council writes: Blaby District Council has been released from a Government ‘special measures’ designation following huge … Continue reading →

The new regional headquarters for the Department of the Environment Northern Ireland (DoENI) have now been established at a refurbished site at Ebrington. The (DoENI) writes: The Minister, along with DOE Planning Chief Fiona McCandless, has now relocated to Ebrington.  … Continue reading →

The Welsh Government has announced its allocation of funding for works to Merthyr Tydfil and clarified the importance of funding available through the Vibrant and Viable Places scheme. The Welsh Government writes: Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths, … Continue reading →

The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) recently produced a policy note entitled ‘Strategic Planning: Beyond “Cooperation”’ dealing with ideas on cross-Authority working in England and suggestions for the roles and methods of Local Authorities, Central Government and Local Enterprise Partnerships … Continue reading →

The winner of the public vote of the annual Green Flag park award has been crowned twice winner with a record number of votes: Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets, London. The Green Flag Scheme writes: Victoria Park in Tower Hamlets, … Continue reading →

This week government announced changes to the workings of English Heritage (EH) and the creation of Historic England, with no changes to the former EH duties and powers of heritage protection and a new charitable trust to manage the former … Continue reading →

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has this month issued figures on how changes in the planning regulations have contributed to ‘getting Britain building’, with planning approvals at a 10-year high as authorities granted 350,200 permissions in the … Continue reading →

The National Heritage Training Group (NHTG) has launched a new heritage helpdesk this week, with a telephone and email service designed to help offer traditional building skills support. NHTG writes: The NHTG is pleased to announce our new home at … Continue reading →

English Heritage (EH) has issued a tribute to their former Chairman Sir Jocelyn Stevens, who passed away on 12 October.  English Heritage writes: Sir Jocelyn may have been an unlikely choice of Chairman for English Heritage, but no-one could have … Continue reading →

Historic Scotland (HS) has launched a new online survey inviting views on the performance and future of their heritage management service, with a deadline for responses of 4 November. Historic Scotland (HS) writes: Heritage Management is the part of Historic … Continue reading →

The charity group ‘Planning Democracy’ are urging people to lobby their MSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament) to support a third party right of appeal being built into the Scottish planning system.  Information on the proposals Planning Democracy group information

The Wedgwood collection industrial archive has been saved thanks to a public appeal and grants from a major fundraising appeal. Save Wedgwood writes: The Wedgwood Collection – one of the most important industrial archives in the world – has been … Continue reading →

Ministers have underlined the Government’s commitment to protect the green belt from development by publishing new and revised guidance. Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis have insisted that thousands of brown field sites are available … Continue reading →

The Northern Ireland (NI) Assembly has launched a review of the NI social inclusion programme, looking to address the issues faced by rural communities. The Northern Ireland Assembly writes: The Northern Ireland Assembly Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development has … Continue reading →