As we face the decline of our natural environment, data shows that tackling climate change, air quality, biodiversity loss and plastic pollution needs to be a priority. As public concern for the environment and climate grows, urgent action is needed to drive necessary change. The new Environment Bill provides a comprehensive […]
Planning
24 posts
Failing to adopt a more coherent approach to planning the UK’s cities and towns will make it impossible to meet the challenges of population growth, climate change and environmental risks a new study by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has found. The report – A Smarter Approach to Infrastructure Planning […]
Chris Walker, former Treasury economist, has called for 30,000 more homes to be built each year as people in Britain are living for longer. In light of new research suggesting that the NHS is “overwhelmed” by nearly a million extra older people suffering injuries after falling, the call aims to […]
We have recently been working on planning applications and designs for Paragraph 79 houses, providing clients with bespoke buildings fit for ‘Grand Designs‘. But what is Paragraph 79 and how can it be used to enable some of the most innovative designs in some of the most incredible parts of […]
South Tyneside Council have recently published a draft local plan. A local plan sets a framework for how areas will grow over 15-20 years. Local Plans set out the strategic priorities for development of an area and cover commercial, housing, private and public development, including transport infrastructure, along with protection […]
New research suggests that living within 300m of urban green space is associated with a greater sense of worth, life satisfaction and happiness. Research conducted by Newcastle University, the University of Warwick and the University of Sheffield, uses new geospatial research techniques to create an accurate measure of the relationship […]
The world’s first solar farm to directly power a rail line is set be be introduced into the track near Aldershot, paving the way for future solar-powered trains. Around 100 solar panels at the trackside site will supply electricity to power the lights and signalling on Network Rail’s Wessex route. […]
A new planning framework in Wales aims to show where new services, jobs and homes need to be created over the next 20 years with an emphasis on more urban living. As part of the development vision, thousands of new council homes will be built, as well as large-scale wind […]
The Northumberland Local Plan and Durham Local Plan set out the planning framework for much of the North East and determines much of the land usage for the next 10 years and beyond. The deadlines to have land considered for these plans are approaching fast – on 29 May 2019, the Northumberland Local Plan […]
Local Plans set out the strategic priorities for development of an area and cover commercial, housing, private and public development, including transport infrastructure, along with protection for the local environment. They are made up of a series of documents that should set out clear guidance on what development will and […]
The housing crisis is primarily caused by a lack of affordability. Why aren’t houses affordable? Not because we are poorer than we used to be, but because houses are far more expensive than they used to be. With the government recently being accused of prolonging the national housing crisis by failing […]
Cycle lanes have been in the news recently as many opponents to the idea have been using misguided arguments against them. For all the (slight) progress in some UK cities over mass cycling, we are still at a stage where opposing groups will state falsehoods about bike lanes as if […]