Declaring a climate change emergency
Local authorities can play a key role in tackling climate change – and there is plenty for them to do. Never before has thinking globally and acting locally been more important, says Mark Whitehead.
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. |
Local authorities and retail
19/06/2018 Tiffany Cloynes explores the points councils should consider when bidding for new retail schemes. |
Planning contributes over £2.35bn to Welsh society, research finds
07/06/2018 The planning system contributed at least £2.35bn to Welsh society last year, according to town planners. |
Green spaces are being lost to housing at ‘alarming rate’, campaigners say
04/06/2018 The Government’s ‘market-driven rhetoric’ is leading to the countryside being lost to housing at an ‘alarming rate’, campaigners warn. |
Council chiefs warn of ‘housebuilding free-for-all’
25/05/2018 Proposed changes to national planning guidelines would lead to a 'housebuilding free-for-all’, local government leaders have warned. |
Whitehall launches controversial new ‘fracking’ package
18/05/2018 The Government has launched a raft of new measures, including a £1.6m fund, to help local authorities deal with shale gas drilling applications. |
Guide launched to help councils cope with climate change through planning
16/05/2018 Planning experts have joined forces to offer councils practical advice on how to cope with climate change. |
Housing developments should be more ‘transport-oriented’, planners say
10/05/2018 Planners have called on the Government to focus more on transport-oriented housing developments as study reveals only half of new housing is built within 2km of a train station. |
Planning permissions for over 350,000 new homes granted in 2017
03/05/2018 Developers are on track to deliver the Government's objective of building one million new homes by 2020, according to their industry body. |
Local authorities should produce ‘wildlife recovery maps’, campaigners say
02/05/2018 Councils should be required by law to provide maps of local areas that are important for wildlife to help increase the extent and quality of natural habitats, charity says. |
Planning and Ecology
01/05/2018 How can local authorities realize the environmental benefits required by new government legislation? Karen Colebourn reports. |
Rural business ‘stifled’ by planning system, warn landowners
19/04/2018 Delays by local authority planning departments are viewed as a ‘barrier’ to economic growth and development in rural areas, survey reveals. |
Data reveals 45% increase in completed build-to-rent homes
12/04/2018 Local authorities and developers have earmarked sites that can deliver more than 17,500 new build-to-rent homes, latest data has revealed. |
Planning permission delays have ‘limited impact’ on housing supply
10/04/2018 Attaching automatic planning permission to housing land allocated in local plans would have ‘limited impact’ on increasing the supply of homes, new research reveals. |
Government to review council powers over illegal traveller sites
05/04/2018 The Government is to review how local authorities can deal with unauthorised caravan sites and developments more effectively. |
Three councils face intervention over local plans
26/03/2018 Three councils are facing government intervention over their failure to produce a local plan. |
Planning laws should be reformed to protect commercial space, think tank says
21/03/2018 Major cities in the North and Midlands are growing rapidly, but the Government needs to take action to protect the commercial space driving this growth, think tank says. |
Conversion reforms will ‘heap’ pressure on local areas, council chiefs warn
21/03/2018 Local authority leaders have warned forthcoming plans to change the laws governing the conversion of agricultural buildings will ‘heap more pressure’ on local infrastructure. |
Government launches £23m neighbourhood plan
20/03/2018 The Government yesterday launched a £23m fund to help local residents plan their own communities. |
Shining political spotlight on New Towns
14/03/2018 Kate Henderson explains why a new cross-party group on New Towns has been set up and what it aims to achieve. |
Planning reforms to boost rural homes
12/03/2018 The Government has announced changes to permitted development rights to allow more agricultural buildings to be turned into new homes. |
Spotlight on the NPPF
09/03/2018 How has the sector responded to the reforms to the planning system? Mark Whitehead reports. |
Housing: Time for councils to stand up and deliver
09/03/2018 Karen Cooksley argues that councils will need to start preparing now in order to implement the government's housing policies. |
The planning shakeup - what it means
07/03/2018 Theresa May has launched an overhaul of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Mark Whitehead asks what it all means. |
What does the NPPF mean for our town centres?
07/03/2018 Dr Steven Norris explores how the revised planning rules could help strengthen the government's 'town centre first approach. |
Planning guidance for shire councils ‘toothless instrument’
05/03/2018 A coalition of organisations has written to Sajid Javid to urge him to strengthen cooperation on housing and infrastructure between local government tiers. |
Developers exploit ‘loophole’ to squeeze affordable housing in rural areas
05/03/2018 Housing developers are exploiting a legal loophole to deny rural residents access to affordable housing, campaigners say. |
PM unveils 'major overhaul' of planning rules
05/03/2018 Local authorities have renewed demands for greater powers to build new homes following a shakeup in planning rules. |
Whitehall must reform ‘viability tests’, campaigners say
01/03/2018 Government must amend the definition of ‘affordable housing’ and change its approach to viability testing in its updated planning framework, campaigners say. |
Nearly 70 councils share funding to unlock stalled housing
26/02/2018 The Government has named the first wave of councils to be given cash to help speed up planning decisions. |
Westminster deputy leader admits accepting over 500 gifts
21/02/2018 Westminster CC's deputy leader has referred himself to the authority’s monitoring officer after revelations he had been entertained 514 times in three years. |
Government releases £45m to ‘combat barriers’ to development
16/02/2018 The Government today released £45m to help local authorities build over 7,000 homes on council-owned land. |
Developers sitting on more than 420,000 homes with planning permission
16/02/2018 The backlog of homes that have been given planning permission but are still waiting to be built has increased by almost 16% in the last year, new analysis has revealed today. |
Couple fined £4,000 for disguising home as a garage
13/02/2018 A couple in Leicestershire have been forced to pay over £4,000 for breaching planning regulations at their home. |
The June issue of Local Government News contains the full details of all the winning schemes in the 2019 Street Design Awards. From Children's Play to Pedestrian Environment, find out who has been recognised for their innovation and use of best practice.
This issue also explores how local government pension funds can hedge currency risk, how councils can best address the shortfall in school places, and an update on the number of authorities banning the use of Roundup over safety fears.
