Simple steps to improve cybersecurity
Sameer Dixit argues security is a weak point in councils' armour and outlines ways local authorities can anticipate and plan for cyberattacks.
New guidelines are failing to boost number of homes, research finds
24/01/2020 Measures designed to boost housebuilding by councils have actually had the opposite effect, according to planning consultants’ Lichfields. |
Councils 'coming up short' in helping self-builders, say campaigners
22/01/2020 Campaigners have accused some councils of using 'dirty tricks' to stop people from building their own home. |
Council abandons joint housing plan after inspectors question its ‘soundness’
20/01/2020 A third west of England council has voted to withdraw from a joint regional plan for housing and growth. |
Think tank warns red tape is ‘strangling’ the high street
17/01/2020 National planning guidelines and local plans are failing to revitalise the high street, a new report by a think tank has warned. |
Former housing minister warns of ‘a new generation of slum housing’
16/01/2020 A former housing minister has warned that national planning policy needs ‘a radical rethink’ in order to promote the wellbeing of communities. |
Council approves £1m transit traveller site
16/01/2020 Wolverhampton Council has approved plans for a new transit site for the traveller and gypsy community. |
Rutland approves its first ever McDonald’s
15/01/2020 Rutland will no longer be the only county in England not to have a McDonald’s, after councillors approved plans for new restaurant on the outskirts of Oakham. |
Over 1,000 ancient woodlands at risk from ‘built development’, charity says
15/01/2020 The number of ancient woods under threat in the UK from built development has topped the thousand mark for the first time in two decades, charity warns. |
Council chiefs call for permitted development right to be ‘scrapped’
13/01/2020 Local authority leaders have warned that communities are potentially losing out on thousands of affordable homes due to office conversions which bypass local planning offices. |
Council ‘vows’ to defend local plan
09/01/2020 Sevenoaks District Council has vowed not to withdraw its draft local plan despite continued pressure from the planning inspector who they accuse of ‘ignoring evidence’. |
Council aims to make York city centre ‘car free’
02/01/2020 York city centre could become a ‘car free’ zone as part of a council effort to make the city carbon neutral by 2030. |
Welsh government bans combustible cladding
23/12/2019 Welsh government has banned the use of combustible cladding on high rise buildings following the Hackitt review into fire safety after the Grenfell tragedy. |
Maximising the benefits of One Public Estate
18/12/2019 Donna Heath says a new approach to construction could help boost the outcomes of the Government’s One Public Estate programme. |
Garden Communities set to deliver over 400,000 homes
09/12/2019 Garden city developments are set to deliver over 400,000 new homes, the equivalent to a city the size of Birmingham, new research has revealed. |
£131m sea defences given the go-ahead
05/12/2019 Permission for sea defences in Portsmouth has been granted in what has been described as an ‘important milestone’ for the city's flood protection measures. |
Planning system is ‘failing’ children’s rights, says report
29/11/2019 The planning system is neglecting the rights and needs of children, a new report has warned today. |
Sunderland receives £100m ‘vote of confidence'
22/11/2019 Sunderland City Council’s city centre masterplan has received a massive boost from a £100m deal with Legal & General. |
Survey warns housing developments are 'built too quickly'
21/11/2019 Planners and developers are failing to consider the infrastructure needed to support new house building, according to a report produced with the help of architects. |
Planners call for stronger direction to tackle climate change
18/11/2019 Stronger direction from the Government and more resources are needed to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, according to town planners. |
Council approves Santander’s £75m campus
21/10/2019 Sefton Council has formally approved plans for a multi-million pound investment to create a state-of-the-art campus in Bootle. |
Only 10% of recent homes built on the Green Belt are 'affordable'
14/10/2019 Only one in ten homes built on land released from the Green Belt over the past decade are considered ‘affordable’, a new report has found. |
Ashford BC’s local plan ‘legally sound’, court rules
11/10/2019 The High Court has rejected a case brought against Ashford Borough Council’s local plan, which the court concluded was legally ‘sound’. |
Oxford to lose out on millions due to planning rule changes
03/10/2019 Oxford City Council has warned that the city could lose out on hundreds of new council houses due to changes in the national framework which guides planning policy. |
Councils vs network operators?
01/10/2019 The Electronic Communications Code reduces red tape, but in doing so it cuts the potential revenue property owners stand to make and risks pitting local authorities against operators. Zoe Wright reports. |
Councils attack plans to extend permitted development rules
01/10/2019 The Government has announced plans to extend permitted development rules to allow developers to convert commercial buildings into homes without planning permission. |
Council chiefs warn ‘boom’ in barn conversions undermines local planning
23/09/2019 Local leaders have called for scrapping of the permitted development right after new figures suggest rural developments might be missing out on vital services. |
Funding boost for councils to crack down on illegal green belt development
13/09/2019 Councils will receive nearly £2m to help tackle illegal development on the green belt. |
Approval given for Jaguar Land Rover's ‘logistics campus’
05/09/2019 Planners have given the go-ahead for a new distribution centre in the East Midlands. |
Who’s planning for more?
04/09/2019 One year on from the launch of the new National Planning Policy Framework planning, Sophie Innes has concerns about its progress. |
Lawyers warn 100 local authorities over climate change plans
02/09/2019 Environmental lawyers have threatened legal action against 100 local authorities across England unless they introduce new climate change plans. |
New rules to increase housing deal transparency
02/09/2019 Councils will be legally required to publish deals with housing developers after new rules were introduced. |
Scottish councils face up to £59m planning costs
28/08/2019 The Planning Act could cost councils in Scotland up to £59m over the next 10 years in new burdens. |
Councils accused of ‘restricting’ retail to residential conversions
23/08/2019 Local authorities are preventing developers from converting retail space into residential property because of scepticism over ‘Permitted Development Rights’, a private wealth law firm says. |
City of London publishes UK’s ‘first’ wind microclimate guidelines
20/08/2019 The City of London has published the UK’s first wind microclimate guidelines for new development proposals in the Square Mile in an effort to keep cyclists safe. |
280,000 approved homes not completed
09/08/2019 The number of planning permissions granted far outweighs the number of completions, according to new research. |
Welsh Government sets out development vision for next 20 years
07/08/2019 A new planning framework for Wales will aim to produce more council housing and increase the use of renewable energy. |
Cuadrilla asks for ‘additional time’ to frack in Lancashire
06/08/2019 The fracking company Cuadrilla has written to Lancashire County Council requesting ‘additional time’ for drilling at the contested Preston New Road site. |
Councils flout ancient woodland protections, campaigners say
01/08/2019 One year on from strengthened protection for ancient woodland in England, local planners are still 'failing to safeguard' the habitat, the Woodland Trust has claimed. |
Move to ban 'poor doors' in new housing developments
22/07/2019 The segregation of social housing residents in mixed-tenure developments will be banned under new measures announced by the Government. |
The biodiversity challenge
17/07/2019 Alex Robinson explains lessons for councils and their partners from Oxford City Council and Grosvenor’s approach at their Barton Park development. |
Permitted developments in danger of becoming ‘the new slum housing’
16/07/2019 Half of local authorities in England think homes created using permitted development rights could threaten people’s health and wellbeing. |
Say ‘no to ugliness’, commission tells planners
10/07/2019 Councils should 'say no to ugliness' in their planning decisions, according to a report commissioned by the Government. |
Planning system 'fuelling' North-South divide, says think tank
11/06/2019 The current planning system is increasing the North-South divide, according to a think tank. |
Protecting town centres
10/06/2019 Debenhams CVA: Josh Myerson and Andrew Haughey explain what councils and local authorities can do to protect their town centres. |
Auditors urges planning services to improve capacity and resilience
06/06/2019 Planning services in Wales are struggling against funding cuts and a lack of resources, according to the official auditor. |
Better planning needed to make Northern Powerhouse ‘effective’
30/05/2019 Joined-up planning is needed to make the Northern Powerhouse effective, according to an expert report. |
‘Permitted development’ undermines local planning, council chiefs say
28/05/2019 Local authority leaders have criticised the Government’s decision to allow homeowners and businesses to extend their properties without going through local planning departments. |
We need a national bus strategy, MPs say
22/05/2019 Bus services are in 'steady decline' due to uncoordinated, fragmented Government policy and local funding, according to influential MPs. |
London council budgets slashed 17% over last decade
13/05/2019 London’s local authority budgets have dropped by nearly a fifth – or 17% – per head over the last eight years, a new study has revealed. |
Malthouse launches £8.5m to support neighbourhood plans
13/05/2019 Minister of state for housing Kit Malthouse launched a multi-million pound fund at the weekend to help voluntary groups deliver thousands of discounted homes. |
Deal signed to deliver 3,000 new homes in Nottinghamshire
09/05/2019 Rushcliffe Borough Council has welcomed a new deal that will see thousands of new homes delivered in Nottinghamshire. |
Whitehall ‘unwilling’ to help the high street, committee says
08/05/2019 The Government is ‘unwilling’ to give high streets a ‘fighting chance’ in the battle with online retailers, a select committee has concluded. |
New housing should meet 10 safety principles, planners say
03/05/2019 Planners have called for new legislation that would help tackle concerns over poor-quality housing. |
Peers call for strategies to develop ‘under-performing’ rural areas
29/04/2019 Local authorities should develop their own strategies for realising the ‘potential in struggling and under-performing’ rural areas, committee says. |
Airspace development - the way up for affordable housing?
26/03/2019 Deborah Rowntree explores how airspace development can revolutionise affordable housing. |
Planners ‘must do more’ to protect people from pollution
28/02/2019 The Government's health advisers say planning authorities must make sure new building projects protect people from air pollution. |
UK Franchise calls for high street reform in 2019
19/02/2019 Mathnasium urges landlords and planning departments to modernise planning policy. |
Planning appeals could be slashed by five months
12/02/2019 Decisions on planning appeal inquiries could be made five months faster under proposals published today. |
Planning system ‘underperforming’, auditors say
08/02/2019 The Government’s planning system is ‘underperforming’ and struggling to deliver on its aim of building 300,000 homes a year, auditors have found. |
Austerity undermines planners ability to ‘serve public interest’, report says
04/02/2019 Central Government cuts have eroded the ability of local planners to think strategically about planning and to ‘serve the public interest’, research has revealed. |
A quarter of councils yet to submit a Local Plan
24/01/2019 A quarter of local authorities have yet to submit a Local Plan six years after being required to act, new research has revealed. |
Council limits permitted development rights to protect office space
21/01/2019 Islington Council has saved hundreds of thousands of square metres worth of office space from being converted into expensive homes. |
The top ten things for local government to be aware of in 2019
11/01/2019 2019 looks set to be a year of interesting challenges and opportunities for local government. Tiffany Cloynes and Clare Hardy offer their predictions for the year ahead. |
Councils approve planning applications at ‘fastest rate’ in a decade
04/01/2019 Local authorities are approving planning applications at their fastest rate in over a decade, a homelessness charity has revealed. |
Council debates banning drones
04/01/2019 Coventry City Council is considering banning the use of drones on council land due to concerns over privacy and noise pollution. |
Birmingham approves 1,400 homes for Commonwealth Games
21/12/2018 Birmingham City Council has approved the planning application for the accommodation for Commonwealth athletes. |
Reading ‘disappointed’ after Wokingham rejects £20m scheme
14/12/2018 Wokingham councillors have rejected plans for a £20m riverside travel route connecting two boroughs due to its ‘sensitive location’. |
Developers may be forced to make 'biodiversity net gain'
03/12/2018 Developers will have to improve habitats for wildlife under new rules proposed by environment secretary Michael Gove. |
Permitted development rules are exacerbating affordable housing crisis, councils warn
27/11/2018 Government rules to allow developers to convert offices into housing without planning permission has led to communities missing out on 10,000 affordable homes in the past three years, council leaders have warned |
Former minister calls for end to ‘toxic’ permitted development
19/11/2018 The planning system is failing to address public concerns in its current state, a former housing minister has said. |
More than 2,000 villages denied affordable homes warn campaigners
19/11/2018 More than 2,000 villages are being prevented from allowing new affordable homes to be built because they are classified as 'unsustainable', according to campaigners. |
New commission to ‘champion’ beauty in building
05/11/2018 A new commission has been launched by the Government to champion’ design and style in the building of new homes. |
Budget 2018: Letwin calls for new approach to large sites
29/10/2018 Local authorities with high housing demand should be given the freedom to allocate land as single large sites and have the clear statutory powers to control the development of such sites, an independent review has concluded. |
Councils given access to satellite images for planning
26/10/2018 Local authorities are to receive free access to thousands of high-resolution satellite images of Britain which will help in areas such as planning and development. |
Housing development to result in loss of Birmingham-sized area of countryside
26/10/2018 Campaigners are warning that a proposal to build one million houses between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge would result in the loss of an area of countryside larger than Birmingham. |
‘Deep flaws’ in planning system driving car-dependency
24/10/2018 The planning system is leaving new housing developments without adequate walking, cycling and public transport connections, transport organisation warns. |
Khan launches £10m fund to ‘boost’ planning teams
19/10/2018 The mayor of London today launched a multi-million pound fund aimed at boosting the housing and planning teams in the capital’s local authorities. |
Builders warn new mapping tool fails to tell 'full brownfield story'
18/10/2018 Building companies have cast doubt on research showing a million new homes could be built on undeveloped brownfield sites. |
Councils failing to plan for 'last mile' logistics, survey finds
18/10/2018 Only a small minority of local authorities have plans to support the 'last mile' stage of online shopping deliveries, according to a new report. |
Councils must ‘act now’ to tackle carbon emissions
09/10/2018 Councils must ensure all plans have carbon-reduction targets, charity says after report warns global warming will lead to ‘unprecedented changes' in society. |
Landowners make £13bn profit every year just for getting planning permission, says report
19/09/2018 Housing campaigners are demanding action over huge profits being made by developers just by gaining planning permission for land they have bought. |
Councils often fail to explain planning decisions, LGO says
13/09/2018 Local authorities frequently fail to explain the reasons behind planning decisions, Ombudsman says as he publishes guidance for planners. |
Councils should benefit from land value ‘uplift’, MPs say
13/09/2018 Increases in land value that result from policy decisions should be shared with councils and should not just go into the pockets of developers, MPs say. |
Westminster CC forced to play phone box ‘whack-a-mole’
07/09/2018 Westminster City Council has called for greater powers to reject planning applications for new phone boxes. |
Over 6,000 houses nearly blocked due to councillor objections
23/08/2018 Over 6,000 new homes will now be built after councillors’ objections were overturned on appeal, planning consultants have found. |
Permission granted for ‘fracking’ site despite council’s opposition
17/08/2018 A planning application to explore underground shale gas reserves in Derbyshire has been given a green light despite objections from the county council. |
Councils urged to create new garden towns
15/08/2018 Councils are being urged to apply for a place on the government's garden communities programme. |
Plan submitted for 2,500 new homes in York city centre
15/08/2018 York Central Partnership has submitted plans to transform one of the UK's largest city centre brownfield sites, creating 6,500 new jobs and up to 2,500 new homes. |
London council to hold ballot on estate regeneration plans
01/08/2018 Kingston Council in south west London is to ask residents if they agree to plans for regeneration of their estate. |
London mayor accused of ‘failing to reflect’ Whitehall housing policies
31/07/2018 Housing secretary James Brokenshire has accused London mayor Sadiq Khan of failing to reflect Government housing policy in his development strategy. |
Revised planning framework ‘hugely disappointing’, council chiefs say
25/07/2018 Whitehall has ‘not listened’ to the concerns of local authorities when it comes to national housing targets, council leaders say. |
Whitehall to consult on allowing ‘fracking’ without planning permission
20/07/2018 The Government yesterday launched a consultation on plans to allow drilling for shale gas to go ahead without planning permission. |
NPPF: Where now for planning?
16/07/2018 Sam Dewar, who believes planning has become too impersonal and systematic, considers what’s likely to be included in changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). |
Council appoints UK’s first newt officer
06/07/2018 The country’s first ever newt officer has been chosen by Central Bedfordshire Council to help protect great crested newts from developments. |
Councils call for changes to affordable housing definition
02/07/2018 Councils have criticised proposed changes to government planning policy after ‘social rent’ homes were dropped from the definition of affordable housing. |
Releasing the Green Belt?
28/06/2018 A recent planning decision has seen a Green Belt site in East London being deemed suitable for affordable housing development. Jesse Honey explores what implications this case could have for local authorities across the country. |
Cuts are stopping councils from tackling unauthorised traveller sites, say planners
26/06/2018 Councils are prevented from dealing with unauthorised traveller sites because of the cost and complexity involved, according to planning experts. |
New Town Development Corporations: an extra tool in the box
25/06/2018 Adrian Turner welcomes the launch of New Town Development Corporations, but outlines how some councils are already delivering housing at scale and pace. |
Planning functions ‘downgraded’ by councils, planners warn
21/06/2018 The planning function has been ‘downgraded’ in over 80% of local authorities, town planners say. |
Call for counties to have greater role in planning
20/06/2018 County councils should have a larger role in planning to help meet the housing crisis, according to the findings of two reports published today. |
This issue of Public Property examines how public sector organisations can unlock the hidden value in their land, and why a new approach to construction could help boost the outcomes of the Government’s One Public Estate programme.
The December issue also considers why learnings from ancient cities could provide the key to promoting wellbeing in the modern built environment. It also contains a case study on how the London Borough of Westminster has provided high quality care for the elderly alongside a block of luxury apartments.
