Government to have final say on Lancashire fracking sites
4 December, 2015
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government yesterday informed Lancashire County Council that the final decision on planning appeals concerning two fracking sites in Lancashire will be made directly by the Government instead of a planning inspector.
The appeals, which were submitted by Cuadrilla to the planning inspector following the Council’s decision in June to refuse planning permission for shale gas exploration wells and associated infrastructure at two sites - Preston New Road, Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood, will be heard by a planning inspector next year who will then forward recommendations to the Government.
The decision follows an announcement in September in which the Government stated that proposals for shale gas drilling would be included in the category of planning appeal decisions that can be decided directly by the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State has decided to use the “recovery procedure” on account of the fact that the proposals for exploration and development of shale gas concern developments of major importance with broad legal implications.
Secretary of State agrees to quash grant of planning permission for residential scheme in Dartford
Dartford Borough Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CO/4454/2015)
3 December 2015
The Secretary of State, having considered the Claimant’s skeleton argument, has agreed to consent to the quashing of a decision by an inspector, to grant planning permission for five flats in central Dartford.
Crucial to the scheme’s acceptability was policy CS18 Dartford Core Strategy (2011). The policy is designed to achieve a particular mix of houses and flats to reduced the speed of dwelling turnover and promote a more settled community. The Secretary of State agreed that the Inspector had failed to understand and apply that policy.
Autumn Statement signals further planning reforms and a new target for affordable homes
26 November, 2015
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review unveiled this week (25 November) committed the Government to a new target for affordable housing starts (400,000 units by 2021) and further reforms to the planning system which included a proposal to allow previously developed brownfield sites in the green belt to be developed in the same way as other brownfield land.
The administration also announced 18 new Enterprise Zones and extended eight zones, promised to spend £2bn to protect 300,000 homes from flooding and £1m to help bankroll activities surrounding Hull‘s status as UK City of Culture in 2017.
Other planning reforms signaled will involve establishing a new delivery test on local authorities to ensure “delivery against the number of homes set out in local plans”.
The Statement also promised measures to accelerate the release of public land for housing and ensure the release of unused and previously undeveloped commercial, retail, and industrial land for ‘Starter Homes’.
Planning policy will also be amended to support small sites. Small and medium-sized builder activity will be helped by the extension of the £1bn Builders’ Finance Fund to 2020-21, and by the halving of the length of the planning guarantee for minor developments.
A sum of £2.3bn is being made available in loans to help regenerate large council estates and invest in infrastructure needed for major housing developments. The Government has committed to £310m to deliver the first new garden city in nearly 100 years, at Ebbsfleet in Kent.
The statement said the Government will consult on reforms to the New Homes Bonus, including means of sharpening the incentive to reward communities for additional homes and reducing the length of payments from six years to four years.
The Review and Statement provides £475m over the next five years to fund large local transport projects, enabling local areas to bid for funding for projects that would be too expensive for them to pay for by themselves, such as the Lowestoft Third River Crossing and the North Devon Link Road.
In addition the Government has promised £300m over the next five years for a new Transport Development Fund. This could include providing development funding for projects such as Crossrail 2 and proposals emerging from the Northern Transport Strategy.
National Infrastructure Commission call for evidence
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-infrastructure-commission-call-for-evidence/national-infrastructure-commission-call-for-evidence
The National Infrastructure Commission is a new, independent body which will look broadly at long-term infrastructure needs and provide impartial advice to ministers and Parliament. We plan on conducting studies on three national challenges.
For each of these studies, we will engage with the relevant Government departments, regulators and delivery organisations, including Network Rail, TfL and the National Grid, as we develop our thinking. We are also keen to gather evidence and ideas from local government, businesses, service providers, users and others to support and shape this work.
Call for evidence on northern connectivity, London’s transport infrastructure and energy supply will run until 8th January 2016.
4 December, 2015
The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government yesterday informed Lancashire County Council that the final decision on planning appeals concerning two fracking sites in Lancashire will be made directly by the Government instead of a planning inspector.
The appeals, which were submitted by Cuadrilla to the planning inspector following the Council’s decision in June to refuse planning permission for shale gas exploration wells and associated infrastructure at two sites - Preston New Road, Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood, will be heard by a planning inspector next year who will then forward recommendations to the Government.
The decision follows an announcement in September in which the Government stated that proposals for shale gas drilling would be included in the category of planning appeal decisions that can be decided directly by the Secretary of State.
The Secretary of State has decided to use the “recovery procedure” on account of the fact that the proposals for exploration and development of shale gas concern developments of major importance with broad legal implications.
Secretary of State agrees to quash grant of planning permission for residential scheme in Dartford
Dartford Borough Council v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CO/4454/2015)
3 December 2015
The Secretary of State, having considered the Claimant’s skeleton argument, has agreed to consent to the quashing of a decision by an inspector, to grant planning permission for five flats in central Dartford.
Crucial to the scheme’s acceptability was policy CS18 Dartford Core Strategy (2011). The policy is designed to achieve a particular mix of houses and flats to reduced the speed of dwelling turnover and promote a more settled community. The Secretary of State agreed that the Inspector had failed to understand and apply that policy.
Autumn Statement signals further planning reforms and a new target for affordable homes
26 November, 2015
The Chancellor’s Autumn Statement and Spending Review unveiled this week (25 November) committed the Government to a new target for affordable housing starts (400,000 units by 2021) and further reforms to the planning system which included a proposal to allow previously developed brownfield sites in the green belt to be developed in the same way as other brownfield land.
The administration also announced 18 new Enterprise Zones and extended eight zones, promised to spend £2bn to protect 300,000 homes from flooding and £1m to help bankroll activities surrounding Hull‘s status as UK City of Culture in 2017.
Other planning reforms signaled will involve establishing a new delivery test on local authorities to ensure “delivery against the number of homes set out in local plans”.
The Statement also promised measures to accelerate the release of public land for housing and ensure the release of unused and previously undeveloped commercial, retail, and industrial land for ‘Starter Homes’.
Planning policy will also be amended to support small sites. Small and medium-sized builder activity will be helped by the extension of the £1bn Builders’ Finance Fund to 2020-21, and by the halving of the length of the planning guarantee for minor developments.
A sum of £2.3bn is being made available in loans to help regenerate large council estates and invest in infrastructure needed for major housing developments. The Government has committed to £310m to deliver the first new garden city in nearly 100 years, at Ebbsfleet in Kent.
The statement said the Government will consult on reforms to the New Homes Bonus, including means of sharpening the incentive to reward communities for additional homes and reducing the length of payments from six years to four years.
The Review and Statement provides £475m over the next five years to fund large local transport projects, enabling local areas to bid for funding for projects that would be too expensive for them to pay for by themselves, such as the Lowestoft Third River Crossing and the North Devon Link Road.
In addition the Government has promised £300m over the next five years for a new Transport Development Fund. This could include providing development funding for projects such as Crossrail 2 and proposals emerging from the Northern Transport Strategy.
National Infrastructure Commission call for evidence
https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/national-infrastructure-commission-call-for-evidence/national-infrastructure-commission-call-for-evidence
The National Infrastructure Commission is a new, independent body which will look broadly at long-term infrastructure needs and provide impartial advice to ministers and Parliament. We plan on conducting studies on three national challenges.
For each of these studies, we will engage with the relevant Government departments, regulators and delivery organisations, including Network Rail, TfL and the National Grid, as we develop our thinking. We are also keen to gather evidence and ideas from local government, businesses, service providers, users and others to support and shape this work.
Call for evidence on northern connectivity, London’s transport infrastructure and energy supply will run until 8th January 2016.