Development and regeneration England/Wales

   

Planning

• 2 December 2008

  Planning bill green light will now accelerate renewable energy The UK's ability to compete in a tough global economy and deliver new green infrastructure vital for reducing our carbon emissions has been given a major boost with the Royal Assent of the Planning Bill

   

• 2 December 2008

  Community Infrastructure Levy: Impact assessment CIL will be a new charge which local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to charge on most types of development

   

• 28 November 2008

  Planning bill green light will now accelerate renewable energy The UK's ability to compete in a tough global economy and deliver new green infrastructure vital for reducing our carbon emissions has been given a major boost with the Royal Assent of the Planning Bill

   

• 26 November 2008

  Government welcomes the Killian Pretty report The government has welcomed proposals to help small businesses and councils save up to £300m a year through a root and branch overhaul of the bureaucratic planning application process recommended by the Killian Pretty review

   

• 26 November 2008

  Planning application process shake up to slash unnecessary red tape The Killian Pretty Review is urging a cull of bureaucracy in the planning application process to make it work better for everyone and help economic recovery

   

• 25 November 2008

  The Killian Pretty review was jointly commissioned by Communities and Local Government and Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Departments in March 2008 The aim of the review was to investigate the opportunities for improving the planning application process for the benefit of all involved. It was carried out by Joanna Killian, Chief Executive of Essex County Council and David Pretty, who recently retired as Group Chief Executive of Barratt Developments PLC. The report, published on 24 November 2008, urges a cull of bureaucracy in the planning application process to make it work better for everyone and help economic recovery

   

• 1 October 2008

  Home extension freedoms begin Improving your home just became a whole lot easier for tens of thousands of families Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint has announced

   

• 22 September 2008

  Previously developed land that may be available for development: England 2007 The latest statistics on previously developed land produced by Communities and Local Government

   

• 18 September 2008

  Achieving Building for life This Housing Corporation publication offers guidance for affordable housing providers on how to achieve the Building for Life standards

   

• 11 September 2008

  Better rules will help home improvements and world heritage sites New development rules which will cut the red tape for home improvements, combat the effects of climate change and protect world heritage sites have been introduced by Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint

   

• 11 September 2008

  Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 section 317: Time Limit for Prosecutions of Breaches of Building Regulations and the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008 (Commencement No. 1 and Transitional Provision) Order 2008 This divisional letter informs building control bodies about the commencement on 22 September 2008 of section 317 of the Housing and Regeneration Act 2008

   

• 26 August 2008

  Housing and planning: update on recent changes to the planning system Network briefing by Suzanne McBride looks at key changes to the planning system since 2004, offering a quick guide to the new system, and considering changes proposed in the Planning Bill (including the Community Infrastructure Levy) and other reviews

   

• 13 August 2008

  Housing and Planning – Key Facts This quick reference leaflet is published quarterly and contains a snapshot of the main housing and planning data

   

• 6 August 2008

  Funding transport Infrastructure for strategically significant developments This consultation seeks views on a set of proposed guidelines and principles covering transport connections to strategically significant developments and who should fund them. The closing date for comments is 31 October 2008

   

• 6 August 2008

  Common Starting Points for Section 106 Affordable Housing Negotiations This research report was commissioned to improve the evidence on the dynamics of planning obligation negotiations for affordable housing contributions. It explores whether establishing a common starting point for affordable housing negotiations would improve practice and outcomes

   

• 6 August 2008

  The Community Infrastructure Levy This document explains the community infrastructure levy, which is a charge that local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to levy on most types of new development in their areas to support local and sub-regional infrastructure development

   

• 6 August 2008

  Valuing Planning Obligations in England: Update Study for 2005-06 This study examines the number of planning obligation agreements entered into in England in 2005-06 and estimates their value.

   

• 9 June 2008

  Planning Partnership guide to speed up new large scale developments A new guide to speed up planning partnerships between councils and developers has been published by Planning Minister, Iain Wright

   

• 4 June 2008

  Local Development Frameworks streamlining Summary of responses to consultation

   

• 3 June 2008

  Blears boosts planning aid giving everyone the right to be heard Communities Secretary Hazel Blears has announced a major expansion of Planning Aid, to ensure that people have the advice, skills and professional support they need to have a proper voice in the planning process

   

• 19 May 2008

  Experts challenge developers to raise their game on eco-towns Fourteen leading experts will today challenge developers to improve their visions for eco-towns and deliver world class proposals for the first new towns in the UK for 45 years

   

• 8 April 2008

  Community Infrastructure Fund - Round 2 Bidding Guidance This document gives guidance to local authorities that wish to bid for funding from the community infrastructure fund. The fund is designed to complement mainstream transport funding, uniquely linking the provision of funding for transport infrastructure to the delivery of housing Additional files: Visit website

   

• 8 April 2008

  Eco-Towns Prospectus This prospectus outlines the Government's eco-towns strategy. Eco-towns will be small new towns of at least 5,000-20,000 homes. They are intended to exploit the potential to create a complete new settlement to achieve zero-carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and architecture

   

• 8 April 2008

  Eco-Towns: Living a greener future - Consultation paper On the 3rd of April, Housing Minister Caroline Flint, announced 15 potential locations that will go forward to the next stage for developing the new Eco-Towns. This is the first stage of the process and they will now be consulted on with the public, local authorities and wider stakeholders and will have a detailed Sustainability Appraisal which will assess the merits and challenges for each one. A final shortlist of locations will be published later this year, after which each potential eco-town will need to submit a planning application This consultation seeks the public's views on the vision for eco-towns and the shortlisted locations proposed. The consultation ends on the 30th June 2008

   

• 8 April 2008

  Building Sustainable Transport into New Developments: A menu of options for growth points and eco-towns This Department for Transport document is aimed at all those involved in the planning, design and construction of new housing developments. It sets out advice on how to build an effective sustainable transport system in new developments, from the planning to the implementation stage. It recommends a variety of transport options to integrate and adopt according to the location and needs of the individual

   

• 25 March 2008

  An end to the waiting game for planning decisions A new red tape busting review to weed out bureaucratic hurdles and create a more efficient planning service for the public and business, has been launched by Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, Business Secretary John Hutton and Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint

   

• 19 March 2008

  The Future of Building Control: Consultation paper CLG consultation paper which sets out and seeks views on proposals by Government for changes to the building control system in England and Wales

   

• 6 March 2008

  Securing the Future Supply of Brownfield Land Government Response to English Partnerships' Recommendations

   

• 29 February 2008

  Consultation paper on new planning policy statement 4: planning for sustainable economic development CLG consultation paper

   

• 29 February 2008

  The Code for Sustainable Homes: Setting the standard in sustainability for new homes The Code for Sustainable Homes (the Code) was introduced to improve the overall sustainability of new homes by setting a single national standard within which the home building industry can design and construct homes to higher environmental standards and offers a tool for developers to differentiate themselves within the market. This document sets out the assessment process and the performance standards required for the Code

   

• 25 February 2008

  Sulfate damage to concrete floors on sulfate-bearing hardcore: Identification and remediation The incorrect identification of sulfate bearing hardcore together with inappropriate advice on how to rectify any problems has caused considerable hardship to many home owners. CLG publication helps to address the lack of practical guidance on the subject of the previous use of contaminated hardcore as a fill material

   

• 5 February 2008

  Housing Corporation Circular 01/08 - The General Consent This Circular announces the issue of the General Consent 2008 incorporated in the booklet Disposing of Land 2008

   

• 28 January 2008

  The Community Infrastructure Levy CLG guide on new powers for councils to set charges to pay for infrastructure on new development

   

• 28 January 2008

  Improving the energy efficiency of our buildings CLG guide to energy performance certificates

   

• 15 January 2008

  The Compulsory Purchase (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 2007 CLG circular 01/2008

   

• 19 December 2007

  Consultation Paper on new Planning Policy Statement 4: Planning for Sustainable Economic Development The new PPS on Planning for Sustainable Economic Development sets out how planning bodies should, in the wider context of delivering sustainable development, positively plan for sustainable economic growth and respond to the challenges of the global economy, in their plan policies and planning decisions. Closing date for consultation is 17 March 2008

   

• 6 December 2007

  New funding for community infrastructure Councils and communities which back new homes will get extra help with infrastructure, Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper announced today as she set out the allocation of £732m to local councils in the Growth Areas and Growth Points for services like transport, schools, health centres and parks. The new Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) proposed in the Planning Bill could also fund £100ms, nationally

   

• 6 December 2007

  Housing and Regeneration Bill Network briefing by Gwyneth Taylor outlines the key provisions of the Bill together with the implications for social housing providers

   

• 30 November 2007

  Planning Performance Agreements: A New Way to Manage Large-Scale Major Planning Applications Government response to consultation replies

   

• 28 November 2007

  Planning White Paper Consultation Government Response to Consultation Replies This document summarises the results of the consultation on the White Paper and sets out the Government's response to the main points made. The Government's overall response on key issues emerging from the consultation on the Planning White Paper and next steps in relation to the Planning Bill

   

• 28 November 2007

  The Planning Bill The Planning Bill was introduced on Tuesday 27 November. The legislation builds on the proposals set out in the Planning White Paper and introduces a new system for nationally significant infrastructure planning, alongside further reforms to the town and country planning system

   

• 7 November 2007

  Housing and planning key facts: October 2007 This quick reference leaflet is published quarterly and contains a snapshot of the main housing and planning data. Detailed housing and planning data may be found in the live tables

   

• 11 October 2007

  Planning reform Speech by Yvette Cooper, Minister for Housing, attending Cabinet

   

• 9 August 2007

  Planning for a sustainable future Network briefing by Sheila Camp covers issues raised within the White Paper Planning for a sustainable future published 21 May 2007

   

• 1 August 2007

  Land use change in England: Residential development to 2006 - update July 2007 Updated information on residential development in England and the density of new dwellings, including the updated 2006 estimates of proportion of new dwellings provided on previously developed land. Information is provided regionally

   

• 24 July 2007

  Strategic housing land availability assessment: practice guidance This guidance explains how local authorities and their partners must carrying out an assessment of land availability for housing, over a 15 year period, in their areas as outlined in Planning Policy Statement 3: Housing

   

• 24 July 2007

  Planning Policy Statement: planning and climate change A public consultation exercise was carried out by CLG on the draft Planning Policy Statement (PPS): planning and climate change. A total of 324 responses from different organisations were received and the analysis of these is contained in this report

   

• 8 June 2007

  National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) - Building Awareness for the Future The National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (NHPAU) has been established in response to Kate Barker’s Review of Housing Supply (2004)

   

• 21 May 2007

  Planning for a Sustainable Future: White Paper The White Paper sets out the Governments detailed proposals for reform of the planning system, building on Kate Barker’s recommendations for improving the speed, responsiveness and efficiency in land use planning, and taking forward Kate Barker’s and Rod Eddington’s proposals for reform of major infrastructure planning

   

• 21 May 2007

  Government response to the Lifting the Burdens Task Force report on Housing and Planning CLG publication which sets out the Government's response to each of the recommendations in the first report by the Lifting the Burdens Task Force on housing and planning burdens imposed by the Department for Communities and Local Government

   

• 21 May 2007

  Planning for a Sustainable Future The Government have now published the planning White Paper, Planning for a Sustainable Future. The White Paper sets out an ambitious programme of proposed reforms to the planning system to be taken forward in the next three years. These reforms will, for the first time, embrace all development consent regimes, including those for major energy, water, transport and waste development, as well as the town and country planning system. This consultation document asks questions on a number of the key proposals contained in the White Paper and other issues. Consultation period 21 May – 17 August 2007

   

• 18 May 2007

  Strategic housing market assessment guide CLG practice guidance which sets out a framework that local authorities and regional bodies can follow to develop a good understanding of how housing markets operate

   

• 11 May 2007

  Identifying Submarkets at the Sub-Regional Level in England CLG research puts forward a method for improving measurement and understanding of sub-regional housing markets

   

• 11 May 2007

  Planning for Housing: Market Signals - Summary of Research CLG report summarises the results of the research that followed the proposal that local and regional planning should be more responsive to market signals in allocating and releasing land for housing

   

• 3 April 2007

  An introduction to growth areas London Housing Federation briefing to help untangle the policies introduced by John Prescott in 2003 to help meet surging housing demand in London and the South East

   

• 23 February 2007

  Residential Gypsy sites in Beauty Drive, Camilla Drive, Oak Place, Oak Lane and Swallow Court, Crays Hill, Billericay, Essex Decision on seven appeals against refusal of planning permission.

   

• 6 December 2006

  Barker Review of Land Use Planning: Final Report - Recommendations The Government announced in the 2005 Pre-Budget Report that Kate Barker has been asked to lead an independent review of land use planning, focusing on the link between planning and economic growth. The final report for the review is now published.

   

 

HC grant

• 13 August 2007

  Housing Green Paper: financial briefing for local authorities and providers Network briefing by Steve Partridge examines the financial implications of the Green Paper

   

 

Regeneration

• 4 December 2008

  Minister announces £350m boost to Welsh economy Andrew Davies, the Minister for Finance and Public Service Delivery, has announced a £350m package to boost the Welsh economy via innovative, cross-cutting and strategic capital projects

   

• 28 November 2008

  Impacts and Outcomes of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund The NRF has been the principal funding mechanism deployed to drive forward the National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal at the local level. It has assisted England's 88 most deprived authorities, in collaboration with their Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), in their work to improve services and narrow the gap between deprived areas and the rest

   

• 13 November 2008

  Housing and Regeneration Act Network briefing by Jamie Ewing explores the implications of the Act for the housing sector

   

• 31 October 2008

  Regenerating Communities Speech by The Rt Hon Hazel Blears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government

   

• 17 July 2008

  Blears outlines new economic people-focused approach to regeneration Ministers plan to focus on 'real-life' measures to improve people's lives rather than bricks and mortar targets for regeneration funding. This is so communities get more than a cosmetic facelift and are helped to unlock their potential and take responsibility for their own regeneration

   

• 17 July 2008

  Transforming Places; changing lives: a framework for regeneration This framework sets out a package of proposals for consultation that aim to shape the way that regeneration is carried out in future in England. Consultation closes 31.10.08

   

• 8 July 2008

  Housing and regeneration agreement launched A new agreement to support the delivery of more homes and the regeneration of communities has been launched by Housing Minister Caroline Flint, Local Government Association Chairman Sir Simon Milton and Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) Chief Executive Designate Sir Bob Kerslake

   

• 22 May 2008

  New housing and jobs for Yorkshire and Humber A twenty year vision to deliver new houses, tackle climate change, encourage economic growth and regeneration of the Yorkshire and Humber region has been published by Communities Minister Baroness Andrews

   

• 12 May 2008

  Housing and jobs boost for East of England A new twenty year vision to deliver badly needed housing, infrastructure and new jobs for the East of England has been published by Communities Minister, Parmjit Dhanda. The revised Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) will deliver a vision for continuing growth and spreading prosperity to all communities in the East of England in a planned and sustainable way over the next two decades

   

• 8 May 2008

  Gateway to jobs and homes for thousands of east enders A major new package of investment in housing, jobs, infrastructure, community facilities and green spaces is set to rejuvenate areas of east London and transform the lives of people living there, announced Housing and Planning Minister Caroline Flint

   

• 8 April 2008

  Displacement of Crime or Diffusion of Benefit: Evidence from the New Deal for Communities programme The Government has assisted deprived neighbourhoods through the New Deal for Communities (NDC) Programme, launched in 1998. It is designed to encourage delivery of local services in a coordinated way to meet local needs, and aims to narrow the gap between these 39 areas and the rest of the country. This report is based on analysis of crime data in NDCs and their immediate surrounding areas, to find out what effect crime patterns within NDCs have had on crime in surrounding areas

   

• 8 April 2008

  Delivering Safer Neighbourhoods: Experiences from the New Deal for Communities Programme This report presents findings from research on crime and community safety in the New Deal for Communities programme

   

• 8 April 2008

  Challenges, Interventions and Change: An overview of neighbourhood renewal in six New Deal for Communities areas This report presents the findings of research on neighbourhood renewal in six New Deal for Communities programme areas. It looks at why and how changes at the local level have occurred

   

• 28 February 2008

  Distribution of £1bn funding for Housing Market Renewal Programme announced The government has announced the regional distribution of more than £1bn to revitalise the housing market in key areas and restore stable communities

   

• 26 February 2008

  The Big Picture Network briefing by Chloe Fletcher highlights the main policy changes over the past year and outlines what it will mean for housing providers in the coming few years

   

• 13 February 2008

  New Deal for Communities is turning around England’s most deprived areas The Government's £2bn New Deal for Communities programme is delivering real improvements to people's lives, raising satisfaction, and bridging the gap between some our most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of England, according to a new independent report

   

• 29 January 2008

  New Deal for Communities: A Synthesis of New Programme Wide Evidence:2006-07 Latest output from 10year evaluation of NDC programme shows encouraging improvements on place based outcomes but a slower rate of improvement on people based outcomes. The NDC programme provides good learning experience for neighbourhood regeneration.

   

• 14 January 2008

  New agency will have key regeneration role The Government have set out more details of the work of the Agency which will play a key role in delivering the 3m new homes by 2020 pledged by the Prime Minister – the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

   

• 4 January 2008

  Taking Forward the Review of Sub-National Economic Development and Regeneration CLG document which provides an update on progress in implementing the SNR in advance of a full consultation document which will be published early in 2008. It sets out the progress that has been made since publication of the SNR and the next steps, including consultation early in 2008 on the new regional strategies, the proposed new economic assessment duty on local authorities and a range of related issues

   

• 6 December 2007

  Housing and Regeneration Bill Network briefing by Gwyneth Taylor outlines the key provisions of the Bill together with the implications for social housing providers

   

• 31 August 2007

  The Commission on Integration and Cohesion report: Our shared future Network briefing by Vanessa Morton outlines the report's themes and highlights the main recommendations on housing

   

• 13 June 2007

  United stand The Guardian previews the report of the Commission on Integration and Cohesion that is due to be published tomorrow

   

• 17 April 2007

  Coastal towns - The House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee Report Briefing by Vannessa Morton for housing policy makers and practitioners in coastal areas, covering housing issues, which figure strongly in the report, and covering some of the fundamental issues it raises about the nature of these towns’ economies, housing markets and regeneration

   

• 3 April 2007

  An introduction to growth areas London Housing Federation briefing to help untangle the policies introduced by John Prescott in 2003 to help meet surging housing demand in London and the South East

   

• 20 March 2007

  The Single Regeneration Budget: final evaluation research summary Summary report of the final evaluation of the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB). The study evaluates how SRB worked in practice and assesses its achievements against the original programme objectives. The summary also considers how SRB relates to current policy and the lessons that should be incorporated into new programmes

   

• 13 March 2007

  Investment for new affordable homes in Dumfries & Galloway Communities Minister, Rhona Brankin, has announced a record £13 million investment for affordable housing in Dumfries and Galloway over the next year

   

• 19 January 2007

  Partner wanted to deliver affordable housing in three key strategic sites in Cambridge A groundbreaking new pilot programme aimed at changing the way affordable housing is delivered in Cambridge has been launched in a new document setting out details about the Housing Corporation's Cambridge Challenge pilot.

   

• 18 January 2007

  New future for the Housing Corporation opens up The Government’s announcement proposing a new agency set to boost regeneration and housing delivery was welcomed by Housing Corporation Chairman Peter Dixon.

   

• 12 January 2007

  Housing market renewal: latest Audit Commission findings Network briefing by Janis Bright examines the latest evidence from the Audit Commission on the pathfinders' progress

   

• 9 January 2007

  Local Community Sector Taskforce (LCST) Report This report presents the findings of the Local Community Sector Taskforce which was commissioned: "to ensure that central, regional and local government put in place a framework which allows neighbourhood and community groups to manage the wind-down of the Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) and to ensure there are opportunities for them to access the range of substantial sums of Government investment available."

   

• 29 December 2006

  Edwina Hart announces £25m housing renewal aid Communities across Wales in need of regeneration will receive more than £25 million in housing renewal aid from the Welsh Assembly Government

   

 

Development standards

• 26 November 2008

  Address to the National House Building Council Speech by The Rt Hon Margaret Beckett MP, Minister for Housing

   

• 20 November 2008

  In brief: Achieving Building for Life This publication offers guidance for affordable housing providers on how to achieve the Building for Life standards

   

• 14 November 2008

  Building work, replacements and repairs to your home This leaflet highlights the types of building work that needs to be notified to your Local Authority Building Control unless the work is carried out by a Competent Persons Scheme (CPS) installer who is registered with the right Competent Persons Scheme

   

• 29 October 2008

  The Future of Building Control Consultation: Summary of Responses paper This publication details the analysis of the responses received to The Future of Building Control consultation paper which was published in March 2008

   

• 14 October 2008

  Tackling fuel poverty Network briefing by Chris Bowen, explores amongst other things, the extent of fuel poverty, government targets and what a housing organisation can do to help reduce fuel poverty

   

• 18 September 2008

  Achieving Building for life This Housing Corporation publication offers guidance for affordable housing providers on how to achieve the Building for Life standards

   

• 11 September 2008

  Simplified arrangements for the production of CO2 emission rate calculations for new buildings under the Building Regulations 2000: Consultation - Summary of responses This report sets out the summary and analysis of the responses to the consultation on simplified arrangements for the production of CO2 emission rate calculations for new buildings under the Building Regulations 2000

   

• 24 July 2008

  Eco-towns set to face toughest ever green standards Housing Minister Caroline Flint has set out the Government's latest proposals for the UK's toughest ever green standards for new housing as she unveiled a progress report on eco-towns

   

• 3 July 2008

  Buildings in England and Wales score an average ‘C’ energy rating Commercial buildings are scoring an average 'C' energy rating, according to early results from the introduction of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) to the commercial sector