Freeports offer a brave new world and tick a lot of boxes in theory – driving the levelling up agenda, attracting inward investment, enhancing skills and job prospects of local communities, fostering economic growth, developing green economy, and helping companies drive to net zero. In practice we have only just begun, and challenges must be overcome.
Perrins said that annual housing targets should be restored, the planning appeals process accelerated and policies to make brownfield development a priority (including brownfield first) needed to be clearer
The paper says by building on Road Belts across Britain’s towns and cities, in one act, we could create thousands of beautiful, sustainably located, homes, protect our countryside from suburban sprawl and boost skills, jobs and economic growth
The amendment would see solar development banned on England’s ‘Best and Most Versatile’ (BMV) agricultural land, with the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit saying it will cost households between £3bn-5bn/yr
A key argument: does the provision of renewables, with their associated environmental benefits make cases "very special circumstances" which can outweigh harm to openness and landscape?
In a complex survey by Ipsos, the majority of respondents said the current green belt should be retained, with only 21% saying more focus should be on the country's housing needs.
It argues that over 100,000 homes are being held up due to defective EU laws which will be unblocked between now and 2030, delivering an estimated £18bn boost to the economy.
Research by consultants Wood Hardwick says England's green belt covers 12.5% of total land area, with 8.7% of England’s land area of 'developed use', with just 10.5% being defined as ‘built-up’.
The move puts a question mark against the government's promise to uphold current environmental standards, post-Brexit and is an acid test of the powers of the Office of Environmental Protection.
The Brownfield and Regeneration Network online event on ground gas, held with Premium Partner NHBC, examined the shortcomings of current practice in ground gas monitoring, risk assessment, verification, and protection, looked at remedies and delved into new guidance documents. Ian Grant reports.
British Land and Landsec want a special planning category for large regeneration sites and crack planning teams which can be brought in to speed up permissions
The committee says the government’s reform proposals including making local housing targets advisory will render the national housing target impossible to achieve
The regulations have to specify environmental protection outcomes and the requirement to assess the impact of regulations on the overall level of environmental protection
The Climate Change Committee wants consistent alignment of planning policy with mitigation and adaptation actions in the Climate Change Act and Improved guidance on local carbon budgets and resilience frameworks
Enviroguide has doubled in turnover over the last two years and DNV forecasts it will grow its environmental services further, given Ireland’s rapidly growing economy
Dame Glenys Stacey, chair of the Office of Environmental Protection (OEP), and chief executive Natalie Prosser gave evidence to the House of Lords Built Environment Committee on the impact of environmental regulation on development, and said achieving the statutory environmental targets is going to be very hard.
WMCA and Keepmoat commit to 4000 homes, as Aviva Capital Partners venture into Buy-to-Rent, Urban&Civic get go-ahead for 6500 homes and much more in Cambridgeshire, as Inland refinances development, while Esh Construction gets record contract
