England round-up: Housing ‘needs’ to be seen as national infrastructure; Comprehensive Spending Review reaction

Housing ‘needs’ to be seen as national infrastructure

Speaking at the annual RTPI Nathaniel Lichfield Lecture, Lord Bob Kerslake said there is no “magic silver bullet” to delivering the housing needed in England, and every part of the housing sector will need to “play their part and raise their game”.

The Planner 

Comprehensive Spending Review: Osborne announces ‘ambitious’ housing programme

Chancellor George Osborne has announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review measures directed at addressing a “crisis of home ownership in our country”.

The Planner 

Comprehensive Spending Review: Reaction

Industry experts have said that making house building a priority in the Comprehensive Spending Review was the “right” thing for chancellor George Osborne to commit to, but they still have concerns regarding housing supply and placemaking.

The Planner 

Comprehensive Spending Review reaction: Housing

Chancellor George Osborne’s Comprehensive Spending Review aims to support working people to buy their own home and address a home ownership “crisis” in the country. Reaction to the housing measures announced from across the planning sector has been collated here.

The Planner

Council welcomes government position over ‘paying too much’ for land

Islington Council has welcomed confirmation from the government that the value of land should reflect planning requirements.

24dash.com 

Most of Britain’s major cities pledge to run on green energy by 2050

Most of Britain’s major cities will be run entirely on green energy by 2050, after the leaders of more than 50 Labour-run councils pledged to eradicate carbon emissions in their areas.

The Guardian 

Neighbourhood plans for two parishes receive local approval

Neighbourhood plans for two parishes in East Sussex and Nottinghamshire have been overwhelmingly approved in local referendums.

Out-Law.com 

Kensington Market transformation set for green light

The proposed transformation of the former Kensington Market site is set to be given the green light after councillors were advised to approve plans to create 255 student bedrooms, 27 family homes and two commercial units.

Insider Media

GIB helps mobilise £10bn of capital into UK green infrastructure

UK Green Investment Bank plc has announced that it has now committed £2.3 billion to 58 green infrastructure projects with a total value of £10.1 billion. The announcement was made almost three years to the day after the organisation was officially declared open.

Blue & Green Tomorrow 

Plans in for new £75m hospital in Manchester

Plans have been submitted to build a new £75 million hospital and wellbeing centre next to Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI). A director of the organisation behind the proposals said the 130,000 square feet building would be groundbreaking and help to regenerate the surrounding area.

Insider Media 

Good news for Cuadrilla as minister opts to decide on Lancashire fracking plans

Energy firm Cuadrilla has said it "looks forward" to presenting its shale gas exploration plans in Lancashire to Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

City AM

Hendy revises Network Rail project timescales as costs rise

The cost of Network Rail’s infrastructure enhancement programme for 2014-19 has increased from £12.8 billion to £15.3 billion, according to a review by new chairman Sir Peter Hendy, published on November 25.

Railway Gazette

UK failing to close in on renewables targets says Corbyn

Britain will go to climate talks in Paris with the biggest gap between current renewable energy use and 2020 targets of any European country, says Jeremy Corbyn.

Energy Voice

Nationwide house price index: UK housing supply at its lowest level since 1970s

Annual house price growth slowed to a five-month low in November - despite the number of available homes on the market falling to a level not seen since the 1970s.

City AM 

Virgin East Coast plans £21m refurbishment for trains

Virgin Trains is to spend £21 million on refurbishing its fleet of 45 trains that run on the east coast mainline between London and Edinburgh.

BBC News 

Solar farm between Harbury and Radford Semele given planning permission

Plans to build a solar farm on the doorstep of two south Warwickshire villages have been approved.

Leamington Observer