England round-up: SoS powers to make neighbouring councils create joint plans start in January; Plans for Westminster to tackle fast-food delivery app

Small increase in major decisions made within agreed time over summer

English district-level planning authorities decided 88 per cent of major applications within 13 weeks or the agreed time between July and September 2017, according to latest government statistics.

The Planner

SoS powers to make neighbouring councils create joint plans start in January

Regulations giving the secretary of state for communities and local government the power to direct neighbouring local authorities to create a joint development have been laid before Parliament.

The Planner

Yorkshire Dales homes decision deferred

The planning committee at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA) has deferred a decision on whether to grant planning permission for five new affordable homes following a threat of legal action.

The Planner

Plans for Westminster to tackle fast-food delivery app

Westminster City Council’s City Plan is set to introduce new rules that would compel restaurants offering fast-food deliveries through companies like Deliveroo and Uber Eats to apply for planning permission.

The Planner

Playing fields are being safeguarded across England

New figures have suggested that playing fields across the country are being protected when planning applications come forward for permission.

The Planner

Khan accused of wasting land for 27,000 homes

Hundreds of hectares of mostly vacant land designated in Housing Zones will be neglected for housing as a result of new regulations in Mayor of London’s Sadiq Khan’s London Plan, says London Assembly member Andrew Boff.

The Planner

RTPI East Midlands: Leicester’s regeneration focus of president’s visit

The positive role planners have played in the regeneration of Leicester's waterside and city centre was the focus of RTPI president Stephen Wilkinson's visit to members in the East Midlands last week.

RTPI

Mayor recognises community’s hard work on Whitchurch neighbourhood plan 

Councillor Paul Frankum, Basingstoke and Deane’s mayor, has given the neighbourhood plan for Whitchurch his official seal of approval at a special reception.

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Go-ahead for fire-ravaged building’s transformation

Plans to bring a fire-ravaged part of High Town, a main pedestrianised route in Hereford, back to life have cleared the final hurdle.

Insider Media

Convent conversion approved

Plans to convert a former Hull chapel and convent, which at one point provided accommodation for 55 nuns, into a residential development also comprising new apartment buildings have been approved.

Insider Media

Historic pub saved from demolition

A historic former pub in Leicester has been saved from the threat of demolition.

Insider Media

HS2: Bidders revealed for £3bn London stations

Some of the UK’s biggest contractors have formed joint ventures to bid for deals to deliver London’s two planned HS2 stations, worth a combined total of £3 billion, according to Construction News.

Construction News

Government awards councils new funding to transform local communities

The government has announced that 90 per cent of councils are now part of a programme that aims to create 44,000 new jobs and release land for 25,000 new homes.

UK Government

Industry groups press skills minister for SME representation

Four construction industry bodies have asked the skills minister to reconsider the makeup of the panel chosen to select the next chair of the Construction Industry Training Board.

National Federation of Builders

AFC Wimbledon secure planning permission for new stadium

AFC Wimbledon, Merton Council, and Galliard Homes have signed the section 106 agreement that clears the way for a new stadium to be built.

Sky Sports

Highways England calling on public to help shape new M42 junction

Motorists, residents and businesses have been asked for their views on the design of a new £282 million junction on the M42 near Birmingham in a public consultation in 2018.

UK Government

Permission granted for new mental health hospital in York

The City of York Council has granted planning permission to Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV) for a new mental health hospital.

Minster FM