Monthly Archives: April 2012

Another chance to be a Portas’ Pilot

Following the massive response to the first round of Portas’ Pilots the Government have announced funding for a further 12. The first round received 371 bids for just 12 pilot schemes. When announced in May 2012 the winners of the first round will receive £100,000 to improve their high street. And don’t forget use the new Neighbourhood Planning powers to support the development of your high street or town centre. You can read more about this initiative on the DCLG web site. The closing date for submissions is the 30th of June 2012. Are you concerned about the future of your high street? Do you need help putting together a credible plan? Or a bid for Pilot status? Call 01282 … Continue reading

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Funding for High Street Neighbourhood Plans

Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is soon to make available £1 million to support the creation of high street neighbourhood plans. This announcement is part of the Government’s ‘Portas-plus’ response to the Mary Portas’ High Street Review. Portas-plus goes above and beyond the recommendations of the Portas Review and includes a raft of new measures to rejuvenate the country’s rundown high streets. The financial support available from DCLG for neighbourhood planning will help support development of neighbourhood high street plans Announcing the funding Planning Minister Greg Clark said: “For too long local people have been shut out of the planning process with no real voice to affect decisions about the places where they live. “High streets are at … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Planning: First Forum and Parish Applications?

In what would appear to be a first the Norland Conservation Society in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) has applied to become the first neighbourhood forum under the Localism Act. And hot on their heels are Faringdon in the Vale of White Horse vying to become the first parished area to be officially designated a neighbourhood planning area. The Norland Conservation Society is also among wave 5 of the Government’s frontrunners, but unless you know better, even among this select band, this is the first fully fledged application we have come across under the new system.  The Norland consultation is going to run until the 22nd of May 2012, and the Faringdon until 31st of May 2012. … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Planning Is it Brain Surgery? Find out with our Training for Parish Councils

  Thinking of preparing a Neighbourhood Plan? Not sure where to start? Why not get help from our award winning team. Sign up today for our special offer of  low cost Neighbourhood Planning training.   Specially designed for parish and town councils – our seminars deal with all aspects of neighbourhood planning: including the neighbourhood planning process, how to work with your local council, how to engage land owners and developers, and consult the rest of your community. Our seminars also have the added benefit that one of our award winning team will come to you – we discuss the issues you want to discuss in your town or parish at a time and place of your choosing. To make sure you don’t miss out book now. … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Planning: Is It Worth It?

In the perfect start to the Easter Holiday Kirkwells provided training last night to a parish council on neighbourhood planning. And we left this particular village hall with the feeling that for many the key question  is “is neighbourhood planning going to be worth all the effort?” After going through the process. Long, bureaucratic, and with some odd twists and turns. After investing all that time and possibly money (the other key question, of course, is where is this going to come from?). And after being told we are “in charge”, only to find this has checks and balances, one of which is you cannot “have less” – serious questions were being asked in the room about the value of … Continue reading

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Community Infrastructure Levy

Here we discuss the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). If you are a developer, land or property owner CIL is a new cost that could affect you. Read on to find out how CIL may impact on you and what you can do… The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) is a new planning charge, introduced by the Planning Act 2008.  It came into force on 6th April 2010 through the Community Infrastructure Regulations 2010.  Development may be liable for a charge under the CIL if your local planning authority has chosen to set a charge in its area. Who can charge the levy? The charging Authorities are district and metropolitan councils, London borough councils, unitary authorities, national park authorities, The Broads Authority and … Continue reading

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