Inexpensive progress? A framework for assessing the costs and benefits of planning reform

Posted on: 13 February 2012
By: mackene
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A new report, commissioned by the Campaign to Protect Rural England, the National Trust  and the RSPB, considers the argument that the planning system holds back economic growth.  The concludes that while there are costs in some sectors, there is no evidence that planning has large, economy-wide effects on productivity or employment and that the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is unlikely therefore to have much effect on growth.

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Shaping Neighbourhoods: Children and Young People’s Play and Informal Recreation: Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance SPG

Posted on: 9 February 2012
By: mackene
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This draft consultation paper presents a review of the Mayor’s Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) on Providing for Children and Young People’s Play and Informal Recreation published in 2008 and builds on its implementation. The draft document also provides new inspiring case studies of well-designed play spaces in dense urban environments and puts forward a series of implementation points and policy signposts to make the document more user-friendly. Comments are requested by 27 April 2012.

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Protecting the wider countryside: Mapping the potential impact of the National Planning Policy Framework

Posted on: 9 February 2012
By: mackene
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This report, by campaign group the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), concludes that, if the draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is unamended, only 49 per cent of the countryside in England – that is, land covered by a nationally recognised designation – will receive some level of protection from inappropriate development.

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Addressing crime and disorder in public places through planning and design

Posted on: 3 February 2012
By: isadm
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ISBN 9780860177128  £70

This document, published by CIRIA in August 2011, considers how crime and disorder issues can be addressed at the planning and design stages to assist a successful outcome in operation. The guide also provides easily accessed information about parties to be consulted and notes the complexity and interplay of the issues. Detailed information is provided about the issues and case study examples are included to demonstrate decision making in action.

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Basildon Town Centre regeneration

Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
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Draft plans for the regeneration of Basildon town centre in Essex have been approved for a 6 week public consultation. Proposals include: up to 40,000 square metres of retail and leisure including a new 8-12 screen state of the art cinema, restaurants, retail, bars and cafes providing Basildon with an evening economy; up to 25,000 square metres of office space; a 150 room hotel; a new college up to 10,000 square metres; 1500-2000 new homes; a relocated street market; major improvements to St Martin’s Square and Town Square; and new public squares.

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Understanding place: Character and context in local planning

Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
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This document offers ideas for local authorities, councils and communities on the practical uses of historic characterisation within local and neighbourhood planning. Twenty-two case studies have been chosen to show how the results of historic characterisation have been used singly and in combination, and in a wide variety of ways, to inform plan-making and development management. They will also be of interest to planners in the private sector, to developers and their agents, and to neighbourhood planning groups.

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Green infrastructure and open environments

Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
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Preparing Borough tree and woodland strategies.  Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance

The Mayor of London has published draft Supplementary Planning Guidance on tree and woodland strategies for consultation. It sets out an approach to trees and woodland that: covers the audit, protection and management on trees and woodland in line with Policy 7.21 of the London Plan; highlights the asset value of trees and woodland, both in financial terms and the broad range of economic and environmental benefits they provide; considers all the trees in a borough as a single unified resource – an ‘urban forest’; extends the concept of an ‘urban forest’ across boundaries so that the cumulative benefits of trees to Londoners can be enhanced; takes a step by step approach to the management of trees and woodland. Comments are requested by 23 April 2012.

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Hackney Wick Area Action Plan

Posted on: 1 February 2012
By: isadm
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The Hackney Wick Phase 1 Area Action Plan (AAP) was adopted by the Hackney Council in September 2010 following extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders. The AAP now needs to go through the formal adoption process to become a Development Plan Document (DPD) in the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF). The consultation period closes on 12 March 2012.

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Town centres, planning and supermarkets

Posted on: 27 January 2012
By: isadm
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This note describes Government proposals to amend planning guidance on out of town shopping, to encourage competition yet preserve town centres.

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National Policy Statement for Ports

Posted on: 26 January 2012
By: mackene
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This National Policy Statement sets out the Government’s conclusions on the need for new port infrastructure, considering the current place of ports in the national economy, the available evidence on future demand and the options for meeting future needs. It explains to planning decision-makers the approach they should take to proposals, including the main issues which, in the Government’s view, will need to be addressed to ensure that future development is fully sustainable, as well as the weight to be given to the need for new port infrastructure and to the positive and negative impacts it may bring.

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