England round-up: Neighbourhood Planning Bill second reading with the Lords; Housing less affordable for first-time buyers

Neighbourhood Planning Bill: Lords express concerns about planning conditions measures

Members of the House of Lords have expressed both support for and concern about measures for pre-commencement planning conditions laid out in the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, with some calling for more evidence to suggest they delay house building.

The Planner

Housing less affordable for first-time buyers

Housing has become more affordable for existing home owners but for first-time buyers it has become less affordable, according to a report by the National Audit Office.

The Planner

£48m for councils to tackle homelessness

Local government minister Marcus Jones has announced that councils are to receive an additional £48 million in funding to help them deliver new and expanded services to prevent and reduce homelessness.

The Planner

Stephen Wilkinson inaugurated as RTPI president

Stephen Wilkinson has been inaugurated as the 2017 president of the RTPI, taking over from Phil Williams.

The Planner

RTPI shortlisted in three categories at Association Excellence Awards

The RTPI’s Young Planners Conference 2016, England’s Great Places competition and The Planner magazine have all been shortlisted in an awards scheme set up to celebrate best practice and excellence in all aspects of trade and professional Associations.

RTPI

Hurd announces £5 million to Redcar

Climate change and industry minister Nick Hurd has announced that £5 million will go towards a Redcar Growth Zone.

UK Government

Starter homes to be built in North Somerset

Homes for first-time buyers will be built in North Somerset this year, after the government announced that North Somerset Council will be one of 30 local authorities to benefit from the latest round of a national scheme worth £1.2 billion.

Weston Mercury

Decision due over controversial housing plans

A decision on whether to build more than 100 homes in Wroughton now lies with the secretary of state after a recent planning inquiry.

Swindon Advertiser

40 out of 1,290 planning applications decided in public

Charnwood Borough Council has said its procedures for determining planning applications are “transparent” after it was revealed that only 40 out of 1,294 applications in a period of 12 months were decided in public.

Loughborough Echo

Interrogation of the masterplan for the future of Stevenage to begin

A plan that could shape the future of Stevenage for the next 20 years is being interrogated by a government inspector until March.

The Comet

Plans for 110 new Cowfold homes

Plans for 110 new Cowfold homes have been submitted to Horsham District Council by developers.

West Sussex County Times

Permission granted for Sherwood Forest visitor centre

A new £5.3 million visitor centre for Sherwood Forest has been given the go-ahead by Newark and Sherwood District Council.

Notts TV

HS2: Government climbdown on compulsory land purchases

The government has confirmed that HS2 Ltd is not allowed to buy land through compulsory purchase to develop projects unrelated to the construction of the rail line.

The Bucks Herald

Bosbury housing plans to be reconsidered at planning inquiry

Planners will have to propose something “significantly different” to have houses approved for land north of Fosbury, says a local councillor.

Hereford Times

City’s Clock Tower to be transformed

A planning application to transform the area around Leicester’s Clock Tower will be submitted at the end of January.

ITV News

Officers refuse plan for 38 homes in Brimington

Planning officers have refused developers permission to build 38 houses on greenfield land in Brimington.

Derbyshire Times

Burnley’s controversial local plan put on hold

Burnley Borough Council has denied that the threat of legal action is behind the delay in the publication of its much-vaunted local plan.