England round-up: Neighbourhood Planning Bill launched; Fabric closure response

Neighbourhood Planning Bill launched

The Neighbourhood Planning Bill has been launched in Parliament. It aims to speed up and streamline the neighbourhood planning process.

The Planner

Neighbourhood Planning Bill: Reaction

Interested parties, including the RTPI, have responded to the government’s launch of the Neighbourhood Planning Bill. 

The Planner

Review licensing rules to prevent further Fabric closures - experts

Leading figures in licensing, planning and property have called for a review of the night venue licensing system in light of the closure of Fabric nightclub, and threats to other music venues in London and other major cities.

The Planner

Clark approves offshore wind farm infrastructure

Energy secretary Greg Clark has granted a development consent order for infrastructure that would connect the planned Triton Knoll offshore wind farm to the mainland.

The Planner

Mayor approves up to 10,000 homes in Barking

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has approved the masterplan for the ‘single largest’ regeneration site in the capital.

The Planner

MoD and Network Rail unlock land for over 25,000 homes

Defence secretary Michael Fallon has announced plans to release 13 sites to build up 17,000 homes while Network Rail has released enough land for up to 12,000 homes.

The Planner

Key to solving skills crisis is ‘greater collaboration’ between builders and subcontractors

Greater collaboration between house builders and their subcontractors is essential if the industry is to address its skills shortage and continue to increase output.

The Planner

Planning framework should include biodiversity obligation

A new report has called for the public and private sector to do more to protect the UK’s wildlife and biodiversity.

The Planner

UCL campaign wins RTPI Sir Peter Hall award

The winners of the 2016 RTPI Awards for Research Excellence have been announced at a ceremony at the UK-Ireland Planning Conference in Cardiff.

The Planner

Druridge Bay called in

Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has ‘called in’ a controversial planning application for a large opencast coal mine at Druridge Bay on climate change grounds.

Friends of the Earth

Three East Oxford landlords taken to task over HMOs

Landlords have been given six months to stop using their properties as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) after losing appeals against Oxford City Council.

The Oxford Times

Camden planners back developer's bid to turn lane of traffic into private garden

A millionaire property developer has cleared a major hurdle in his bid to shut down part of a road near Regent’s Park to build a private garden next to his lavish mansion.

Camden New Journal

Concerns over the "legal compliance" of the St Albans strategic local plan, says inspector 

Following an initial assessment of St Albans Strategic Local Plan, a planning inspector has highlighted some concerns in relation to the duty to co-operate, housing targets and the infrastructure provision.

Out-Law.com

Town centre upgrade plans back on track

A trio of delayed projects set to provide a boost to Wigan town centre are set to get back on track in the coming weeks.

Wigan Today

Sadiq Khan talks about planning laws and music venues

In an interview with Time Out London, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan discusses planning laws, music venues and getting  more powers from the government.

Time Out

Berkeley warns London's housing problems could hit UK economy 

House builder Berkeley Group has launched a critical broadside on government housing policy in London, warning it could damage the wider UK economy.

The Telegraph

Billionaire James Dyson faces action over pool construction in £20m mansion

The vacuum cleaner tycoon, Sir James Dyson, faces action from authorities after he built a lavish swimming pool at his country estate without planning permission.

Yahoo! Finance

Declining management resources threaten parks investment

Pressure on finances for managing and maintaining public parks threatens to undermine two decades worth of investment, according to a report by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

FM-World

Plymouth's 'most dangerous route to school' will finally get pedestrian crossing 

After months of delay, accusations and counter-accusations, residents of a multi-million housing development may soon get their much promised pedestrian crossing.

Plymouth Herald