England round-up: OxCam expressway off, says Shapps; Council backs Kidderminster development with loan

OxCam expressway off, says Shapps

The Oxford-Cambridge Expressway would not provide value for money for the taxpayer, transport secretary Grant Shapps said as he confirmed that the project has been cancelled.

The Planner

Blueprint outlines delivery of low-carbon industrial sector

Business and energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has set out the government’s plans to cut emissions from industry, schools and hospitals, as well as switching from fossil fuel sources to low-carbon alternatives by 2030.

The Planner

Growth deal signed for the Borderlands

A £452 million growth deal covering the north of England and south of Scotland has been signed off. It seeks to increase productivity and increase the working-age population.

The Planner

Hope Valley Line gets £137m of funding

The government has announced that the Hope Valley rail line has received £137 million of funding as part of its ‘levelling-up’ commitment in the North, to improve capacity and connectivity between Sheffield and Manchester.

The Planner

Government announces £2.7m tree fund

The government has announced a new £2.7 million initiative as part of its plans to increase tree planting and natural regeneration in local communities.

The Planner

Deal will see 1,550 affordable homes built in Dagenham

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a deal that will see 1,550 affordable homes built on the former Dagenham Stamping Plan cart works site in East London.

The Planner 

Council backs development of Kidderminster site with loan

Wyre Forest District Council has backed regeneration plans for 4.5 acres of brownfield land in Kidderminster, once home to the British Sugar Factory.

The Planner

Unlimited fines will apply to fire safety breaches, says government 

The Home Office has announced that building owners that breach fire safety regulations could face unlimited fines under measures being introduced in the building safety bill.

The Planner

Godwin Developments submits BTR plans in Sheffield

Godwin Developments has announced that it has submitted plans for a ‘gateway’ 336-apartment build-to-rent (BTR) scheme on the edge of Sheffield city centre. 

The Planner

Bristol City Council approves East Street plans 

Bristol City Council has approved plans by developer Firmstone to build new homes and a large retail space on a former Argos store site on East Street in Bedminster. 

The Planner

Contract awards values rose in February

Data suggests that contract awards increased by 11 per cent from £4.3 billion in January to £4.7 billion in February.

The Planner

WMCA invests £3m for 175 new homes in Solihull

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has announced that it is putting £3 million towards Solihull Council’s plan to deliver 175 homes at a former secondary school site in north Solihull.

The Planner

Female planning lawyer takes silk

Jenny Wigley and Gwion Lewis have become Queen’s Counsel in the latest round of new silk appointments.

The Planner

Nottinghamshire pub threatened with enforcement action

A pub has been threatened with enforcement action if it allows street food traders to continue selling food from the car park, owners have claimed.

Nottinghamshire Live 

Partnership breaks new ground on brownfield regeneration

Work has started on the £17.5 million National Brownfield Institute. The research centre received planning approval in December 2020.

West Midlands Combined Authority

Debenhams store to be converted into 300 flats

The former Debenhams store in Leicester is set to be converted into 300 rental flats, following a public consultation that took place at the end of last year. Property firm Hammerson has submitted plans to Leicester City Council.

Retail Gazette

Devon railway line set to reopen for first time in 50 years

Communities and passengers in Devon are to benefit from the reopening of the railway between Okehampton and Exeter as a result of the government’s ‘Restoring your Railway’ initiative.

Network Rail

Council approves 22 affordable homes in village

Breckland Council's planning committee has approved plans to build up to 22 new ‘starter homes’ in Necton, Norfolk.

Eastern Daily Press

Plans unveiled for Newcastle city centre

Newcastle City Council has published plans for the centre of the city, which are part of a wider recovery plan from Covid-19.

ITV News

HS2 revises plans for railway in Warwickshire 

HS2 has revised designs for the railway in the Canley Brook area in Warwickshire to reduce the environmental impacts and avoid a major realignment of a local river.

PBC Today