Monthly Archives: November 2012

The Kirkwells’ Pig Ugly Awards

Never one’s to shy away from having a bit of fun, and with the end of the year in sight, Planning Minister Nick Boles has given us a great idea: The Kirkwells’ Pig Ugly Awards. What, you may well be saying? Well, our Planning Minister introduced a key new term in to the architectural lexicon. One to sit alongside Prince Charles’s  “monstrous carbuncle”: pig ugly. So just how far do you have to sink to get the Minister’s Pig Ugly Award? Nick Boles’ benchmark is, step forward, Harrison’s Wharf, in Purfleet. We make no comment: Harrison’s Wharf, Purfleet (Source) Courtesy: primelocation.com So to celebrate all that is pig ugly in the world of planning, architecture and design we have decided to hold the … Continue reading

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Harrogate, Lido Leisure Park, Knaresborough Consultation

  Harrogate Council is consulting on an additional site for growth – Land at Lido Leisure Park, Knaresborough. This site had not previously been considered in the preferred options consultation which took place between September and November 2011. Before the site can be considered by the council as suitable for housing or employment, a separate consultation needs to be undertaken to determine whether it can become an option in the local plan. The existing land is used as a caravan park but its proposed use is for both market and affordable housing. The land has the capacity for 300 dwellings, however, at this stage it is unclear whether the land owner would like to see the entire site developed or … Continue reading

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Planning Aid’s Up Front Recommends our Top Tips

  Our recent How to Engage the Community on Your Neighbourhood Plan feature has been picked up and recommended by the RTPI’s Planning Aid newsletter Up Front.  A little like our own Neighbourhood Planning News, Up Front brings together top neighbourhood planning stories, events, and top tips! Look out for our Winter Neighbourhood Planning News or subscribe. And if you like our top tips, and need help to engage your local community on your neighbourhood plan, just email or give Louise or Michael a call on: 01282 872570     ©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants based at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley www.kirkwells.co.uk Research • Planning Policy • Site Search • Site Appraisal • Planning Applications •  Appeals • … Continue reading

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Neighbourhood Planning New Funding: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

  OK. The Good. £9.7 million of funding over the next two years. You know, despite some quibbles, we remain big fans of neighbourhood planning.  The other key ingredient is that DCLG recognise the need to send some of this funding arrowing to those actually doing the neighbourhood planning. The various neighbourhood planning bodies, whether they be parishes or neighbourhood fora. This would be via a grant or voucher scheme. Unfortunately, at this point, we have to say things start to go, for us a little pear shaped. Firstly, the grants, or vouchers  would be up to £7,000 per neighbourhood area. For “start-up costs, training sessions, required studies and incidentals”. £7,000? Didn’t DCLG’s own impact assessment acknowledge a complex neighbourhood plan … Continue reading

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Selby Consults on 7th Set of Core Strategy Changes

THIS CONSULTATION HAS NOW CLOSED. DID YOU MISS IT? WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN? WE MONITOR ALL LOCAL PLANS. WE CAN TRACK THOSE THAT AFFECT YOU AND CAN THEN ADVISE YOU ON HOW TO RESPOND. TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU CALL 01282 872570. Following adjournment of the examination in public to the Selby Core Strategy a seventh set of changes are being consulted on. You have until 28th of December 2012 to comment. If you need expert help to make your views known on the Selby Core Strategy, or any local plan, call Kirkwells on 01282 872570. You can view the Selby proposed changes here.     ©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants … Continue reading

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Preston Consults on City Centre Plan

THIS CONSULTATION HAS NOW CLOSED. DID YOU MISS IT? WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN? WE MONITOR ALL LOCAL PLANS. WE CAN TRACK THOSE THAT AFFECT YOU AND CAN THEN ADVISE YOU ON HOW TO RESPOND. TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU CALL 01282 872570. Preston City Council is consulting on a new plan for the city centre. The Preston City Centre Plan will be an Area Action Plan, and will sit alongside the council’s Site Allocation’s Plan, which reached Preferred Options stage earlier this year. Interested in the future of Preston? Need expert help to make your views known? Then email or call: 01282 872570 You can comment on the Issues and Options paper until the … Continue reading

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Doncaster Sites and Policies Consultation

THIS CONSULTATION HAS NOW CLOSED. DID YOU MISS IT? WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN? WE MONITOR ALL LOCAL PLANS. WE CAN TRACK THOSE THAT AFFECT YOU AND CAN THEN ADVISE YOU ON HOW TO RESPOND. TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU CALL 01282 872570. Doncaster are consulting on the latest draft of their Sites and Policies Development Plan. This document identifies sites for new development, areas of land that warrant protection or enhancement and sets detailed policies on which planning applications are assessed. This document builds on a draft version of the document produced earlier this year.  The Council are now consulting on a revised plan with housing and employment sites. And new sites suggested for housing. … Continue reading

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Kirkwells Support Branston Neighbourhood Plan Frontrunner

  Branston Parish Council have appointed Kirkwells town planning consultancy to help them prepare their neighbourhood plan in one of the Government’s frontrunner neighbourhood planning areas. Branston are one of eleven neighbourhood planning frontrunners in East Staffordshire. In announcing the appointment Branston Parish Council Chairman Mike Ackroyd said: “We as a parish council are on a very steep learning curve with and from our first meeting with Kirkwells they have given us the confidence to help us prepare our plan. They are very keen to help and guide us and nothing is too much trouble, we are looking forward to working closely with them.” Kirkwells’ Policy Director, Louise Kirkup said: “Neighbourhood planning is one of our specialities. So here at Kirkwells … Continue reading

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Knowsley Consults on Local Plan Core Strategy

THIS CONSULTATION HAS NOW CLOSED. DID YOU MISS IT? WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT DOESN’T HAPPEN AGAIN? WE MONITOR ALL LOCAL PLANS. WE CAN TRACK THOSE THAT AFFECT YOU AND CAN THEN ADVISE YOU ON HOW TO RESPOND. TO FIND OUT HOW WE CAN HELP YOU CALL 01282 872570. If the future growth of Knowsley affects you you have until the 21st of December to respond to the Council’s consultation on the Knowsley Local Plan Core Strategy. The Core Strategy is The Council’s strategic plan which will shape the growth and development of Knowsley up to 2028. The Council see the future development of Knowsley being achieved by: a. A focus on development within existing urban areas, with emphasis upon areas that are … Continue reading

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How to Engage the Community on Your Neighbourhood Plan

The successful launch of the Stretton Neighbourhood Plan has just taken place. And if you view the photos what a success this was. People through the door, numerous comments, new information, and dialogue opened, things to check, and potential new volunteers. So how did we and Stretton parish council do it? Below are ten key things used in Stretton to make engagement and consultation on the neighbourhood plan a success. Good Organisation – it may sound obvious, but this is a must. Decide in advance what you are doing, who is doing it, what materials you need, and how you will make a record of what was said and discussed. Willing, enthusiastic and well-briefed volunteers– it is your plan so make sure … Continue reading

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