Monthly Archives: March 2015

The independent panel set up to advise the Welsh Government on designated landscapes – National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) – has come down firmly against a single designation, though it has recommended that AONBs should be … Continue reading →

The Northern Ireland (NI) Environment Committee inquiry into wind energy has recommended that the Institute of Acoustics conditions adopted elsewhere in the UK are also adopted in Northern Ireland, potentially extend the neighbour notification radius and that community engagement toolkits … Continue reading →

The Royal Town Planning institute (RTPI) has published ten key proposals for Planning in the next Parliament in advance of the UK general election. The RTPI writes: These have been selected from an extensive policy and research work programme conducted by … Continue reading →

An election briefing paper on local authority expenditure produced by the independent Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) has highlighted that some of the council service areas which have seen the largest cuts to net spending over the last five years … Continue reading →

The Chair of the Communities and Local Government (CLG) Commons Select Committee has criticised the Government for rejecting the suggestions within their evidence based report into the operation of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).  The CLG Committee writes: Clive … Continue reading →

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has launched a fund aimed at helping the heritage economy of coastal areas, providing funding for repair projects and a network of Coastal Community Teams. DCLG writes: A new £3 million fund … Continue reading →

West Dorset District Council, Weymouth and Portland Borough Council and North Dorset District Council are to work together under a newly formed tri-Council partnership agreement, which will see a single Chief Executive for all three Councils and the pooling of … Continue reading →

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has reported on the progress of land sales by government departments and the effects on housing site availability. DCLG writes: Enough unused public sector land has been released to build over 103,000 … Continue reading →

Ministers have announced the outcome of a consultation exercise to establish proposed location shortlist for the UK spaceport, with 5 locations across the UK, many with interesting heritage legacies and associations, old and new. The UK Space Agency writes: Plans … Continue reading →

The High Court has ruled that the decision of a London council to designate the area around a demolition-threatened pub as a conservation area should be quashed, after deciding that the consultation held by the council did not meet the … Continue reading →

The Telegraph recently reported on the acquisition of Lord Byron’s Grade I listed former home (139 Piccadilly), which will now be converted from offices into a private dwelling with swimming pool and gym. View the Telegraph article View the planning … Continue reading →

BBC News recently reported on the 60th anniversary of the publication of ‘Outrage’, within the Architectural Review magazine (a critical look at the architecture and development of British towns by Ian Nairn), inviting Jonathan Glancey to reflect on the relevance … Continue reading →

Historic England and the English Heritage (EH) Trust (which launch formally on 1 April) have announced highlights of their programmes for the coming years, with new websites live on 16 March. English Heritage writes: The restoration of one of London’s … Continue reading →

The Coalition has confirmed moves to give the Welsh administration greater planning powers in line with the recommendations of the Silk Commission. This ‘devolution package’, announced last Friday, means Wales should have additional powers over energy, transport, the environment and … Continue reading →

A new fund has been launched by the Scottish Government to help identify and make the most of town centre assets, carrying out surveys which map all the assets within the area, with the funding to be administered by Development … Continue reading →

The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has announced that 23 March will be a day to celebrate all the public houses that have been listed as Assets of Community Value (ACV) and a call for communities to consider … Continue reading →

Campaigners have welcomed a decision by a developer Gladman to drop legal proceedings over refusal of planning permission for a 112-homes development at Baxter’s Field off Summer Street in the Slad Valley near Stroud made famous by writer Laurie Lee, … Continue reading →

Liverpool City Council has decided to go to the High Court to challenge the decision by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to reject the proposed regeneration of the Welsh Streets. Confirming the appeal Assistant Mayor and Cabinet member for Housing, Councillor … Continue reading →