England round-up: Waltham Forest approves 750 homes at virtual meeting; Manchester chief exec to decide planning applications

Waltham Forest approves 750 homes at virtual meeting

Waltham Forest Council’s planning committee has granted planning permission for a 750-home scheme in Leyton, east London, at a virtual planning meeting.

The Planner

Manchester chief exec to decide planning applications

The chief executive of Manchester City Council has been delegated powers to decide planning applications during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

The Planner

West Sussex council requests a pause in progress of local plan

Horsham District Council has asked the government to suspend the review of the area’s local plan during the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

The Planner

COP26 postponed due to Covid-19

The COP26 UN climate change crisis has been postponed until 2021 because of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

The Planner

CAP appoints Ian Tant as vice-president

Ian Tant has been appointed as vice-president of the Commonwealth Association of Planners (CAP). The immediate past president of the RTPI will serve in this role for two years.

The Planner

Proposals submitted to redevelop Cheshire golf club

Anwyl Homes Lancashire has lodged a planning application with Halton Borough Council for 255 dwellings on land at Widnes Golf Club.

The Planner

Construction contract values achieve year-on-year increase

Construction contract values totalled £6.5 billion in February 2020 – 19.9 per cent up on those for February 2019, according to analysis published by Barbour ABI.

The Planner

Fall in Right to Buy sales in Q3

English local authorities sold an estimated 2,356 dwellings between October and December 2019 (Q3) – a 12 per cent decline on the same quarter in 2018/19.

The Planner 

Salford waterfront scheme to go ahead

Salford City Council has approved developers Royalton Group and Frogmore’s Cotton Quay scheme.

The Planner

Government brings in 'biggest changes to building safety in a generation'

Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced new measures to reform the building safety system with the biggest changes in a generation to ensure that residents are safe in their homes.

Facilitate

HS2 work to press on during coronavirus lockdown

HS2 is pressing ahead with work on some West Midlands sites during the coronavirus crisis, bosses have confirmed.

Express & Star

Scrap HS2 to save our economy, says Tory MP

HS2 should be scrapped to offset the strain on the UK's finances caused by coronavirus, said Sir Bill Cash.

Express & Star 

Barnet Tesco store criticised over car park rat running

A supermarket has been accused of contributing to “traffic chaos” by failing to stop rat running through its car park.

Times Series

Housing development to regenerate Rotherham site

A new housing development is set to support the regeneration of a vacant site in Rotherham, following the granting of planning permission.

Insider Media

Giant Essex gas plant application stalls on climate grounds (subscription)

The Planning Inspectorate has said it cannot proceed with the examination of a gas plant in Essex because the planning application ‘fell below’ submission standards and failed to take into account the latest guidance on flood risk and climate change projections.

Ends Report

HS2 criticised over removal of woodland soils

HS2 is beginning an operation to remove soils from ancient woodlands at a catastrophic time of year for wildlife, according to the Woodland Trust.

The Guardian

Plans in for new NEC hotel

Plans for a major new hotel near the NEC in Birmingham have been submitted. If it is approved, more than 30 jobs will be created as well as a multistorey car park.

Insider Media

Sites earmarked for development acquired

Baker Estates has purchased two sites in Devon allocated for development.

Insider Media

Chelsea to revisit plans to build new stadium when ‘financial conditions improve’

Chelsea FC have announced that they have put plans to build a new stadium on hold with the deadline for planning permission now passed.

talkSPORT