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Financial viability in planning
Posted on: 17 August 2012
By: mackene
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Filed under: News
Since the adoption of the government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), developers and local authorities are increasingly required to demonstrate that developments are both financially viable and meet the needs of the local community. However, until now, no universally accepted definition of ‘financial viability’ has existed, meaning that many badly needed projects may have been severely delayed or even discontinued. This latest guidance from RICS provides an objective and transparent definition as to what is meant by ‘financial viability’ in a planning context and will help town planners, developers and councillors deliver new, sustainably funded communities, in places where people want to live, in line with the NPPF.
5th Healthy Cities: Working together to achieve liveable cities. Geelong, Australia, 6-8 June 2012
Posted on: 17 August 2012
By: mackene
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The conference provided a platform to discuss causes, effects and solutions that related to population health, sustainability, natural resource management, transport, climate change, and urban design. Presentations and podcasts are available online.
Urban patterns for a green economy
Posted on: 15 August 2012
By: mackene
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UN Habitat has issued a series of four guides under the heading “Urban Patterns for a Green Economy”:
Working with nature
This guide focuses on the effect of unplanned, rapid growth of cities on the functioning of a city-region’s natural systems. It outlines how guided development can maximise the ability of ecosystems to support sustainable human and natural processes. It offers a perspective on how to work with nature and the ecological processes in regions, and looks at the need to work across scales; to understand regional systems; and develop principles and measures that can be applied at the regional, city and local scales.
Leveraging density
This guide explores the compact city and its benefits within the developed and developing world’s contexts. The guide illustrates how the compact city concept and planned (versus unplanned) urban extension can support sustainable urban patterns that benefit the functioning of developed as well as developing world cities. Properly managed, compaction can positively enhance the life of the city dweller and support related strategies aimed at promoting a green economy and sustainable urban settlements.
Optimizing infrastructure
This guide proposes that cities can act as agents for change that allow their large populations to live less wastefully. It considers how infrastructure systems can be viewed as an opportunity to shift cities onto a more sustainable path by paying close attention to the resources that pass through them, and the manner in which they support the activities of the city. Each city context differs, based on stage of development, pace of growth and available resources.
Clustering for competitiveness
This guide argues that strategic investment in physical infrastructure with the diversification of economies allows cities to play a specialised role in polycentric urban development. Furthermore, it suggests that green economic development can be achieved through the development of green clusters and green jobs. Finally, this guide argues that a number of green economy outcomes may be reached through efficiencies and shared infrastructure, rather than duplication.
Renegotiation of Section 106 planning obligations: Consultation
Posted on: 14 August 2012
By: mackene
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This consultation seeks views on a proposal to allow reconsideration of planning obligations agreed in more buoyant market conditions, set out in the government’s ‘Housing strategy laying the foundations: A housing strategy for England’ published on 21 November 2011. Comments are requested by 8 October 2012. An impact assessment has been produced alongside the consultation document and explores the policy position and available evidence.
Plans in Place: Taking a local approach to character in Lincoln
Posted on: 13 August 2012
By: mackene
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English Heritage and the City of Lincoln Council have launched two reports that together outline a local approach to capitalising on the inherited character of places. The documents are aimed at all people involved in place-shaping, including planners, developers, communities and third sector organisations. Plans in place summarises a series of heritage and characterisation evidence projects undertaken in partnership by English Heritage and the City of Lincoln Council between 1999 and 2011, and how this evidence is being used to ensure the City’s unique heritage and character is positively managed, particularly in the planning of new developments and the anticipated growth of the City as the sub region’s Principal Urban Area. It provides a series of toolkits in this respect. The second report, Historic Townscape Characterisation: The Lincoln Townscape Assessment: a case study, provides advice and guidance on how to undertake an historic townscape characterisation project.
Heritage in local plans: how to create a sound plan under the NPPF
Posted on: 13 August 2012
By: mackene
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English Heritage has published this guide for local authorities on how to achieve the objectives of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) for the historic environment and thereby pass the test for a sound local plan.
Croydon Town Centre Opportunity Area Planning Framework
Posted on: 31 July 2012
By: mackene
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The draft Croydon Town Centre Opportunity Area Planning Framework has been published for consultation. The framework has been prepared as a collaboration between the GLA, Croydon Council and TfL. This public consultation will run until 28 September 2012. Following this consultation the OAPF will be revised, finalised and adopted in late 2012.
Reuniting health with planning: healthier homes, healthier communities
Posted on: 31 July 2012
By: mackene
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The Town & Country Planning Association has published a handbook, the first of its kind since the Government set out a radical reform agenda across the planning and health sectors, including a requirement on planners to work with public health organisations, and a new public health responsibility for local authorities. It explains the relevance of these reforms for health and planning, and gives planners and public health practitioners ideas for how they can work together. The handbook aims to keep the importance of integrated working, specifically between planning and health, on the agenda. Using case studies from around England, it explores how places are using this time of change to push forward their intention to integrate their work across both sectors. A series of regional seminars are being held as part of the launch of the handbook. The handbook, case studies and event presentations are available online.
Penfold Review of non planning consents
Posted on: 20 July 2012
By: mackene
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The Penfold Review of Non-Planning Consents was commissioned the Department of Business Innovation and Skills (BIS). The Review was charged with the identification of measures to reduce the regulatory burden imposed on developers by the need to obtain additional consents and approvals after they have secured the grant of planning permission for their development proposals. Such requirements cause delay and costs. On occasion, these can render the development concerned non-viable.
Camden Blueprint Project: Testing neighbourhood planning in Bloomsbury and Somers Town
Posted on: 12 July 2012
By: mackene
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The Camden Blueprint Project has set out to test neighbourhood planning in two inner London neighbourhoods. The intention has been to use methods that mobilise as many people as possible, address issues of access and equality, and highlight the importance of having the capacity to deliver neighbourhood planning through effective community development work and independent technical aid.
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