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Planning Update - Autumn 2017
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| Housing Need Consultation
'Sajid Javid, the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government, has very recently announced a consultation proposing a standard methodology for calculating local housing need. This provides further insight into the proposals of the housing white paper released in February 2017 and has implications for every local authority that will be required to consider how their level of housing need is addressed.
The consultation paper Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Places attempts to simplify the way in which housing need is calculated. This is in a bid to encourage the timely adoption of Local Plans and boost housing supply. The proposed housing need methodology combines three elements:
- Household formation rates based on national data to provide a housing need baseline.
- An affordability ratio (of median incomes to house prices) underlining areas with greater affordability issues and a subsequent expectation to delivery more homes in these areas.
- A housing target 'cap' of no more than a 40% increase for local authorities where a Local Plan is less than five years old and a maximum 40% cap based on local or national data where a Local Plan is more than five years old.
The intention is to specifically increase housing delivery in areas of lower affordability. As a result 148 local authorities nationally are expected to have a reduced housing target and 156 local authorities are expected to have a subsequent increase. It is also recognised that in areas of higher land restraint (for example with a high proportion of Green Belt) that not all housing will be able to be delivered locally. Therefore there will be a much greater expectation on local authorities to cooperate and deliver cross-boundary housing solutions.
It will be particularly interesting to observe the extent of pressure placed on areas with low affordability and high land restraint. We can also expect a period of reflection during which local authorities assess their strategy toward housing delivery and are required to evidence more cooperation. Combined with the revised National Planning Policy Framework, now due in Spring 2018, there will be a period of change across local authority planning departments that we will be observing very closely.
The consultation period for comments closes on 9th November 2017 and we would be happy to answer any more questions you may have.'
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Free Breakfast Seminar
The next free Planning Breakfast Seminar will take place on Wednesday 8 November 2017 at the Nottingham Conference Centre.
Places are limited so please
contact us in advance to secure your free place.
Registration and breakfast served 8.30am - 9.30am
Seminar 9.30am - 10.45am
Further information will be released closer to the date.
To check availability please email
P&DG Bookings or telephone Sarah Hunt on 01623 726256.
P&DG Events
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Nottingham Regeneration
Nottingham Regeneration Partnership
Working with Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham City Council, Planning and Design Group has helped to produce a Regeneration Partnership document to support and promote effective collaboration and Place Management between these two major stakeholder and landowners within the City. This document sets the overarching framework for the delivery of a working partnership between NTU and Nottingham City Council. This agreement to a partnership working approach is positive proof that the city recognises and values the contribution that the University makes to the regeneration and development of the city, and that NTU is acting on its aspiration to be a full partner in the civic and economic development of our community.
This partnership will support the City Council and Nottingham Trent University in developing formal lines of communication and working practices to maintain an active collaboration, and to host an active set of research, regeneration and development projects. It represents a memorandum of joint understanding between Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham City Council.
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Park Life
Working with a number of national car parking providers, P&DG have secured a number of significant planning permissions across the country for revenue generating car parking facilities.
Recent successes include 250 new spaces at Clifton Street, Lincoln for NCP, and two new car parks at Banbury Station, Oxford for Britannia Parking.
The provision of car parking is a highly contentious area of planning, with many authorities seeking to resist private parking provision through outdated floorspace ratios in an effort to reduce car commuting. Often however, there is a suspicion that Councils are more interested in protecting the revenue from their own car parks.
Through its experience and understanding of the operational needs of clients, P&DG has built up specialist knowledge in this particular area of planning, enabling to provide a highly effective service to operators and property managers.
'Good result on the consent for Banbury!'
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New Homes for Shirland
Working on behalf of Wheeldon Homes, Planning and Design Group has helped to secure planning permission for 92 new homes on a greenfield site off Main Street in Shirland. P&DG provided supporting planning information including a Design and Access Statement to demonstrate that the development would enhance the character of the local area as well as providing much needed new homes.
'planning approval was granted yesterday, so just a line to thank you all for your input thus far'
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Giltbrook Granted
Earlier this year, our Midland's office secured a new full residential planning permission for 90 new homes on a greenfield site in Giltbrook, close to the IKEA retail park on behalf of Peter James Homes.
Our opening success was to reduce the planning application fees by £35,000 and assisted in the negotiation of reduced planning contributions and affordable housing requirements. We worked closely with the planner to minimise the number of pre-commencement conditions. This ensured that the scheme could deliver quickly to assist the Council in meeting its housing delivery requirements. Within a month of obtaining permission, Peter James Homes were on site and many of the homes have already been reserved. For further details see:
www.peterjameshomes.co.uk/pentrich-fields
Most recently, P&DG have successfully negotiated a stopping up order for a footpath running alongside the site, dealing with objections from the Ramblers Society and local residents
'we received a unanimous approval at the planning meeting last night. We would just like to thank you all for your valuable input to date and the efforts made.'
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Brackenhurst Reception and Environment Centre
P&DG has supported Nottingham Trent University in securing planning permission for a new multi million pound reception and visitor centre as part of wide ranging investment and improvement at it rural science campus. The exciting new building, designed by award winning Architects Evans Vettori, replaces a series of redundant CLASP buildings, close to the front of the Listed Brackenhurst Hall. Through excellent design, coupled with close consultation with the local authority and other stakeholders, a very smooth and speedy planning process was achieved with unanimous approval for the scheme. Work has started on site with completion expected early in 2018
'Excellent. Well done all. Thanks'
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P&DG Saves Christmas!
Sarah Hunt, a planner in our Midlands Office has successfully guided the grant of planning permission for a large extension of Blueberry Foods, located at Oak Spinney Park, Leicester. The extension is urgently required in order to produce the Christmas dessert range of a premium high street food retailer. Members of the Planning Committee unanimously resolved to approve this application. Planning and Design Group worked proactively with Officers to establish a mutually agreeable way forward and secure an early turnaround of the decision. Timescales were critical to ensure that the extension could be completed and operations commenced.
'Many thanks for your help'
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Hydroponic Research Centre
P&DG have obtained planning permission for a Hydroponic Research Centre at NTU's Brackenhurst Campus.
The hydroponics research facility is the cornerstone of work on sustainable agriculture. Led by Professor Lu, the main aim of the facility is to investigate resource use efficiency, in particular nutrients and energy (LED light) use efficiency in both soil and soilless growing systems. The facility is pre-constructed off site for maximum efficiency and contained within two conjoined, reusable shipping containers.
The purpose of using shipping containers is integral to the project, which is in part about establishing how sustainable agricultural techniques can create efficient crop growth using minimal resource in areas of the world where resource - including building materials - are scarce or cost prohibitive. The potential for available, recyclable, low cost 'buildings' to house low resource, high yield growing platforms is a fundamental part of the research. The benefits for drought affected areas, and for helping to meet food demand globally are hugely exciting and at the cutting edge of world research into agri-sciences.
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Planning and Design Group have successfully assisted Nottingham Trent University in rolling out its upgraded brand identify across its campuses in the City Centre, Clifton and Brackenhurst. After identifying which signage would require express consent, P&DG worked with the estates and marketing teams and council planners to present a more coherent, unified and legible brand across the campus environments.
The applications involved dealing with the potential impacts on a range of Listed Buildings, tram infrastructure and rural roads, and required a range of effective planning and design skills to deliver the dual need for signs to both fit in and stand out. In addition, prompt consents were required to meet the University's roll out programme so that the new signage could be in place before the start of term.
'That's a nice start to the New year Thanks to all of you for pushing this through'
'Marvellous stuff....There will be some big grins as a result of this info.'
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Cat A Offices
Working with a number of major pension funds, P&DG has continued to secure permissions for Cat A office refurbishments across the country. Using P&DG's specialist experience to obtain consents on Listed Buildings in Bristol, Superdrug's new headquarters in Croydon and offices in Basingstoke have proven to be a cost effective and efficient way for investors and architects to deliver necessary permissions without delaying programme and to enable prompt re-letting with minimal void periods.
'Brilliant, thanks very much.'
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Introducing Andrew Grayson
P&DG are very pleased to introduce Andrew Grayson, the newest member of our Midlands Planning Team.
From Sheffield originally, Andrew has spent most of his planning career working in the Midlands; including the Peak District National Park Authority, Chesterfield Borough Council and Bassetlaw District Council.
Andrew's background in local authority planning policy as well as his experience of teaching and researching planning issues at the University of Sheffield, will make him a great asset to our team.
"This is my first planning consultancy role and one I'm very excited to be undertaking. I will be transferring my knowledge of Local Plan development and spatial planning approaches whilst developing my knowledge of all aspects of planning practice.'
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Key Consultation Dates for this Autumn
We always are always keen to observe how local planning policies are changing to best inform our work. Below are the key consultation dates across the East Midlands region this autumn that we will be considering.
- Broxtowe District Council are currently consulting on their Local Plan - Part 2 Publication Version until the 3rd November 2017
- Leicester City Council are consulting on their Emerging Options and Development Management Policies until 31st October 2017
- Harborough District Council will be consulting on their Harborough Local Plan: Proposed Submission Draft between the 22nd September and 3rd November 2017
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P&DG at East Midlands Expo
Join our team at the East Midlands Expo on Monday 9 October 2017 at the East Midlands Conference Centre. You will find us on Stand E4. It's free to attend.
Pre-register for East Midlands Expo
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Look out for our
Planning Blog on our P&DG website for uptodate comments and information. If you would like to talk to a member of the team about any of the articles included in this months newsletter, or have a project you would like to discuss please get in touch. Don't forget to book early for the next
FREE Planning Breakfast Seminar and we hope to see you at the
Thanks again for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Richard Hall
Planning & Design Group
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