England round-up: Councils receive £3.4bn bonus, South West rail line at risk of flooding

A round-up of planning news in England: 13 December-19 December, 2014
Councils receive £3.4bn bonus
Housing minister Brandon Lewis has confirmed that councils have received nearly £3.4 billion for building more than 800,000 homes, delivered through the New Homes Bonus.
Civic Society says large parts of city are “shockingly ugly” after its views sought by council
Large parts of Leicester are “shockingly ugly” says a campaign group.
Half of South West rail lines in ‘flood risk’
Almost half the network of the main rail lines in the South West are at risk of flooding because of climate change, says an internal Network Rail report.
Train contracts: ministers criticised by MPs’ committee
Taxpayers have been left “bearing all the risk” from purchases of new trains worth £10.5 billion, say MPs.
Target of 47,500 new homes agreed by Cornwall Council
Cornwall Council has agreed that the first part of the draft Local Plan for Cornwall, which has a target of 47,500 new homes, should be submitted to the secretary of state for examination.
Solar farm given the OK
A solar farm on land near the A617 dual carriageway at Temple Normanton has been given planning approval.
Birmingham city centre to be pedestrianised in parts
Parts of Birmingham city centre are to be pedestrianised in a radical overhaul of the city's roads.
Plan to transform York's Guildhall complex approved
A £9.23 million plan to repair and transform York’s Guildhall complex has been agreed by councillors.
Boris approves River Thames garden bridge
A controversial garden bridge is to be built across the River Thames after the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, approved the scheme.
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