England round-up: Organisations warn against poor design resulting from permitted development; Homes England loan to help deliver Northamptonshire homes

Organisations warn against poor design resulting from permitted development

Government proposals to extend upwards and convert commercial properties into dwellings by extending permitted development rights will result in poor-quality development and see public services suffer.

The Planner

Legal challenge launched over Brokenshire London tower refusal

A legal challenge has been launched against the housing secretary’s decision to refuse plans for a 17-storey residential tower in Purley.

The Planner

Homes England loan to help deliver Northamptonshire homes

A £70 million Homes England loan will aid delivery of housing developments in Kettering and Wellingborough.

The Planner

Consent for £20m first phase of Skelmersdale development 

West Lancashire Borough Council has approved plans for the first phase of a £49 million scheme in Skelmersdale.

The Planner

New Durham station gets the go-ahead

Plans to build a new £10.55 million railway station in east Durham have been granted planning permission.

The Planner

Community-led housing fund launched in London

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a £38 million fund for community-led housing. It aims to enable Londoners to play a leading role in building new social rented and other affordable homes for local people.

The Planner

Housing starts rose over summer 2018

There were an estimated 44,740 new-build dwelling starts in the second quarter of 2018 – a 12 per cent increase compared with the first quarter. This was also a 12 per cent increase on the same period a year earlier.

The Planner

Quartermain writes about habitats regs (pdf)

Chief planner Steve Quartermain has written to local authority planners about habitats regulations assessments, after the People Over Wind & Sweetman v Coilitre Teoranta case in the European Court of Justice.

UK Government

HS2 may run fewer trains to stay on budget

HS2 could be forced to run fewer trains and at slower speeds in order to keep the high-speed rail project within budget, the company’s chief executive has said.

The Guardian

Sheerwater couple prosecuted twice for flouting planning regulations

Woking Borough Council has warned that it will take action against unauthorised developments after a local couple were convicted for a second time of planning breaches.

Eagle Radio

New social housing ‘must be energy efficient’

Any new social homes must be energy efficient, claims a report into England’s housing crisis by consultancy Elmhurst Energy.

Facilitate

Total worth of homes in the capital drops by £26.2bn 

The total value of London's housing stock recorded a £26.2 billion fall in 2018 – the first decrease since 2009, according to new analysis.

Homes & Property

Enforcement notice served over mound of soil deposited in Shoreham

An enforcement notice has been served to developers over a mound of soil that was deposited on land in Shoreham without planning permission nine months ago.

Shoreham Herald

Council drops Telford factory plans after public outcry

Telford & Wrekin Council has recommended that an unpopular planning application for an industrial park in Telford should be dropped.

Shropshire Star

Permission granted for new stands at Lord’s

Marylebone Cricket Club has been granted full planning permission by Westminster City Council to construct two new three-tier stands to replace the existing Compton and Edrich Stands at Lord’s Cricket Ground.

Lord’s Cricket Club

Croydon residential development approved

Broadway Malyan’s 181-apartment development in Croydon has been given planning permission.

Landscape Insight

Plan submitted for 550 homes on former green belt land

A plan for 550 homes on former green belt land in Coventry has been submitted by developer Bellway Homes.

Coventry Telegraph

Owner of home built 75cm too tall to be served with enforcement notice

The owner of a Stoke-on-Trent home deemed 75cm too tall is due to be served with a planning enforcement notice. Asif Naseem is appealing against Stoke-on-Trent City Council’s refusal to grant retrospective planning permission.

Stoke Sentinel

New specialists appointed to Homes England Framework

Twenty 'highly skilled' housing specialists have been appointed by Homes England to help speed up housebuilding across England.

UK Government