England round-up: How sites visits are being conducted during Covid-19; East Midlands transport plan for HS2 station set out

News analysis: How sites visits are being conducted during Covid-19

Visiting potential sites for development is one of the final steps in processing a planning application, so how has coronavirus affected the way building control professionals go about ensuring works comply with building regulations?

The Planner

East Midlands transport plan for HS2 station set out

A £2.7 billion transport plan that connects the East Midlands to the region's HS2 hub station at Toton in Nottinghamshire has been set out by a group of councils, transport bodies and East Midlands airport.  

The Planner

England needs a design quality unit, consortium insists

The government is being advised to set up a dedicated Design Quality Unit for England in order to build on the work of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.

The Planner

Ashford council approves 725 homes

An urban extension scheme that includes 725 homes has been granted planning permission by Ashford Borough Council at a virtual planning committee meeting.

The Planner

Senior planner warns for neeed of more office space

A senior planner has said that building managers and landlords should make use of atriums and breakout areas as a way to create more space in workplaces when they reopen to help building users stick to social distancing rules.

Facilitate Magazine

Crossrail stations to be handed over to TfL earlier than planned

Key Crossrail stations in central London will be handed over to Transport for London (TfL) earlier than planned, TfL papers released ahead of next week's board meeting reveal.

New Civil Engineer

Delay to development plan for Scarborough town centre

Scarborough Council’s £22 million plan to create 200 flats for students and NHS staff in the centre of the town will be delayed for a year, it has been revealed.

Yorkshire Coast Radio

People could miss planning applications due to new regulations, says planning expert

Planning authorities need to be careful that people do not miss the chance to have their say on applications affecting them or their homes, a planning expert has warned.

Shropshire Live

Controversial plans for 5G mast outside Black Country mansion

A petition has been launched over controversial plans to build a 5G mast outside a grade ll-listed mansion.

Express & Star

HS2 releases images of two tunnel boring machines

HS2 has revealed images of its first two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) that are set to begin work on the high-speed project later in 2020.

Global Railway Review

Wiltshire man told to comply with enforcement notice 

A Wiltshire businessman has been given three months to remove a shipping container at the back of his house.

Wiltshire Times

National Trust ‘deeply concerned’ as Sizewell C plans about to be submitted

National Trust bosses are “deeply concerned” about the impact that a new nuclear power station could have on an “irreplaceable stretch” of the Suffolk coast and say they are still waiting for vital information about the project.

East Anglican Daily Times

40-home estate in Alresford turned down on appeal

Plans for a 40-home development on farmland in Alresford have been rejected by a government planning inspector as it would “significantly harm the character and appearance of Alresford and would be unsympathetic to its landscape”.

Clacton Gazette  

West Midlands sets up construction group

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has formed an Advanced Manufacture in Construction (AMC) advisory group to support the delivery of housing at pace and scale.

West Midlands Combined Authority