Recent research by the Local Government Association (LGA) suggests that because of permitted development rules, communities may have lost out on over 13,500 affordable homes in the last four years. Office conversions carried out under these rules mean that they can be converted into housing without being subject to a […]
housing
20 posts
A recent practice advice note released by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) suggests that the plan making and public engagement skills planners have provides a key role in the current resurgence of local authority housebuilding. The note also considers how local authority planners can balance supporting and promoting authority-led […]
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 […]
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 […]
As more millennials move into the housing market, the construction of ‘wellness-minded’ buildings and eco-friendly homes are on the rise. With solar panels in the roofs and built with environmentally-friendly materials, green buildings are becoming more popular amongst the younger generations than ever before. Developed to have as minimal effect […]
A House of Lords inquiry six years ago found that the UK government, as well as society as a whole, were underprepared for the needs of our ageing population. However despite the findings, evidence shows that we continue to ignore this important issue. If people are going to live longer […]
Kit Malthouse – Housing Minister – has recently announced changes to developer contributions. This will increase the rate of homebuilding as well as make the overall system simpler. Currently builders pay through developer contributions (Community Infrastructure Levy and Section 106) for the schools, parkland, GP surgeries and roads needed to […]
We can support you with the creation of more than just a house, but a home for life. Lifetime Homes emerged from work developed by the Helen Hamlyn Foundation and Habinteg Housing Association in the late 1980s. Helen Hamlyn Foundation’s focus was on the impact of an ageing society on […]
The NAO’s report says that a shortage of both financial and human resources was a major issue in delivering new homes with the number of local authority planning staff fell by 15% between 2006 and 2016. Total spending by local authorities on planning functions fell 14.6% in real terms between 2010/11 and […]
A project by Newcastle University’s Professor Roger Burrows has been ‘digging into’ the trend for basement developments in London. His work follows on from that of Prof. Steven Graham, which looks at the “luxified skies” resulting from high-specification apartment blocks. The proliferation of planning applications for elaborate basements between 2007-2017 […]
We are delighted to announce that an appeal we worked on against the refusal of an outline planning application for new housing has been allowed by the Planning Inspectorate. The application was recommended for approval by officers but planning committee voted to refuse the application. We are delighted that the […]
Northumberland County Council are preparing their Local Plan, which will run to 2036. What does that mean? (And why would anyone be interested?) Every local council has a duty to create a strategy that takes into account things like how the area’s population and economy are likely to change, and to […]