England round-up: Major infrastructure schemes ‘need better coordination’; Deal is agreed on partnership to deliver garden community

Major infrastructure schemes ‘need better coordination’

Better coordination of local infrastructure projects, long-term tracking of performance and greater transparency of delivery is required or the government risks ‘squandering’ billions of pounds, according to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

The Planner

Chief planner’s letter outlines recent changes to England’s planning system

England’s interim chief planner, Dr Michael Bingham OBE, has written to local planning authorities to draw attention to the measures in the Business and Planning Act 2020 to address issues arising as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Planner

Deal on partnership to deliver garden community agreed

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council have joined with master developer Urban&Civic and global charitable foundation the Wellcome Trust to deliver a £1.2 billion ‘sustainable’ garden community at Manydown in Basingstoke.

The Planner

Cycling and walking plan on track in England

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has launched a cycling and walking plan that seeks to tackle the causes of ill health and build on increased numbers of people cycling during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Planner

Birmingham rail station to be redeveloped

The West Midlands Combined Authority has agreed the full business case for the £56 million redevelopment of University Station.

The Planner

Housebuilder commits to biodiversity strategy

Housebuilder Redrow has launched a ‘Nature for People’ biodiversity strategy, which has been established as part of a long-standing partnership with charity The Wildlife Trusts.

The Planner

Plans for manufacturing space in the North East submitted

An application for 4.5 million square feet of manufacturing space on the site of the former SSI steelworks in Redcar has been lodged with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council.

The Planner

Interactive roadmap seeks to aid improvement of town centres

The Better Towns Roadmap consortium has launched an interactive roadmap to help to ‘transform’ towns across the UK.

The Planner

Homes England commits to building more inclusive industry

Homes England has launched its first annual Equality, Diversity and Inclusion report. The government’s housing agency has pledged to work with its partners to create a more inclusive industry that addresses the needs of the diverse communities.

UK Government

Homes England backs a new ‘healthy housing’ toolkit 

Homes England has backed new design guidance called Building for a Healthy Life, which encourages healthier lifestyles to be planned into new housing developments. The new guidelines are published by Design for Homes and Urban Design Doctor.

UK Government

New offshore wind turbines could pay money back to consumers

The newest wave of UK offshore wind farms could produce power so cheaply that they pay money back to consumers, say researchers.

In Cumbria

Village housing scheme proposed

Proposals to build almost 35 new homes within a Milton Keynes village have been published.

Insider Media

HS2 offers free construction training course for unemployed

A free construction training course linked to opportunities to work on HS2 is being offered to those in Warwickshire who are out of work or looking for a new career path.

Leamington Courier

Cherwell to review local plan

Cherwell District Council has begun a three-year process of reviewing the policies in its existing local plan, creating key points to adopt into its new one timetabled for 2023.

Bicester Advertiser

Plans launched for 5G mast in Tipton

Plans have been launched to build a new 5G mast on a Black Country street. The new 20 metre-tall pole has been earmarked for land on St Marks Road, in Tipton, Sandwell.

Express & Star

Ambitious homes plans to regenerate Jaywick

The government’s housing minister has visited Jaywick to hear about ambitious plans to regenerate the deprived area.

Daily Gazette

WMCA signs up to West Midlands National Park

Plans to create a West Midlands National Park have taken a step forward after the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) signed a memorandum of understanding with Birmingham City University.

West Midlands Combined Authority

Climate crisis to be at the heart of the region’s updated transport plan

West Midlands Combined Authority’s wide-ranging transport plan is set to be updated with a greater focus on meeting the #WM2041 climate change challenge.

West Midlands Combined Authority

Detail wanted on Shropshire garden village consultation

A consortium that has seen its proposal for a garden village dropped by Shropshire Council says it is unhappy with the basis of an upcoming consultation.

Shrophire Star

Changes to planning system in response to Covid-19 pandemic

Mike Hughes, major planning projects and performance manager at the South Downs National Park, has outlined some of the key changes to the planning system in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

South Downs National Park

Opinion: Fundamental changes to high street use classes

Planning consultancy Lichfields considers the government's plans to change the Use Classes Order.  

Lichfields