Now that the long summer recess is over, MPs returned to Parliament this
week to familiar scenes. Whilst plotters and would-be opposition leaders
lurked in the shadows, the government focused its attention once again on
the Planning Bill, left incomplete in the last parliament.
Keen to push the item up the news agenda, the Office of the Deputy Prime
Minister issued a press release stating that Keith Hill, the planning minister,
was set to launch a ‘planning shake-up’ which, he claims, will
be ‘a major milestone in our planning reform agenda’.
The shake-up comes in the form of two new planning policy statements:
PPS11 & PPS12. Both statements will form part of the bill which is designed
to make for a ‘faster, fairer, and more flexible planning system’.
The bill will look closely at where and how planning decisions are made.
At its core is the Government’s keenness to involve local communities
in the process.
Mr Hill said: ‘The most important aspect of this is that, we are
emphasising early consultation and community involvement in the planning
process.
‘The new Bill will do away with the multiple deposit stages which
bog down the process as it currently stands.’
The government hopes to change what it sees as a system which encourages
action to take place only in the run-up to a public inquiry. PPS12 promotes
more 'front-loading' - where decisions are discussed with the community and
stakeholders early in the process.
The changes will, in theory, benefit the community and developers alike.
Both PPS11 & PPS12 encourage smoother relations between different governmental
bodies – what the ODPM calls ‘partnership working’.
Mr Hill also pressed the importance of Regional Spatial Strategies, which
he said would give a clearer indication of where development should take
place and thus speeding up the process.
He said: ‘The aim of the planning system should be to allow development
where it’s needed and to stop it where it’s not.’
Tom Curtin, Managing Director of Green Issues welcomed the announcement.
He said: ‘The new bill is crucial, both for the housebuilding industry,
and also for the country.
‘The Government is right to focus on the need to consult early,
and consult often.’
The bill will continue to make its way through the Commons and Green Issues
will continue to monitor and report any interesting developments.
Keyworker Housing on the Fast Track
Nearly a thousand key workers will be housed by 2006 under new plans unveiled
by John Prescott last month.
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in conjunction with English Partnerships
and the Housing Corporation, will fast-track more than 1,600 new affordable
homes on surplus public land in the South East.
The three-year programme will include housing for at least 850 key workers
and will focus largely in and around towns identified as being of greatest
need. These are primarily former new towns such as Milton Keynes, Stevenage,
Welwyn Garden City and Crawley, and two Registered Social Landlords – Genesis
Housing Group and Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association - have been chosen
to develop 56 sites.
Mr Prescott said: ‘This approach heralds a new era of partnership
working, helping to bridge the gap between the inadequate supply and increasing
demand for high quality affordable homes.
‘The towns selected have been identified as particular areas of
need and combining the forces of English Partnerships and the Housing Corporation
has been crucial in delivering fast results.’
English Partnerships will provide the 56 sites free of charge and the
Housing Corporation will provide funding through the Social Housing Grant.
Genesis Housing Group and Bedfordshire Pilgrims Housing Association will
build a mixture of sale and rental properties.
At the time of writing, the Housing Partnership – as the group is
formally known – is still working out final details, including the ‘financial
arrangements’ of the programme. They insist, however, that high quality
of design and the use of modern construction methods remain the paramount
considerations.
Green Issues announces opening of new northern office
Green Issues Communications is pleased to announce the opening of our
new northern office in Manchester and the appointment of our new manager
for that office, Graeme Coombes.
Graeme can be contacted on 0161 209 3850 to discuss how Green Issues Communications
could help your company.
Steven Norris to speak at Green Issues Breakfast Seminar
London Mayoral candidate Steven Norris will speak on the ‘Challenge
of Development in London – A Political Perspective’ at the next
Green Issues breakfast seminar at The Dorchester in London on 11 November.
There are a limited number of places still available. If you wish to find
out more about this event, please contact Lisa Turner on 0118 983 9462.
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