Bolton Council has published the charging rates it expects to introduce using the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Bolton’s Draft Charging Schedule proposes the following CIL rates:

Residential dwellings and student accommodation £45

Retail warehouses £45

Supermarkets £135

All other chargeable development £50

(all rates are per square metre).

The Draft Charging Schedule is available here.

If Bolton’s CIL affects your land and property development get expert help so you can  respond before the 24th of June deadline. Call us on 01282 872570 or email.

 

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May 13th 2013

Trafford Council has published the charging rates it expects to introduce using the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).

Trafford’s Draft Charging Schedule proposes the following CIL rates:

Private market houses

Cold market sub-area £20

Moderate market sub-area £40

Hot market sub-area £80 (or £65 for apartments in this sub-area)

Retail warehouses £75

Supermarkets £225

All other chargeable development £10

(all rates are per square metre).

The Draft Charging Schedule is available here, including a map showing the market sub-areas.

If Trafford’s CIL will affect your land and property development get expert help so you can  respond before the 24th of June deadline. Call us on 01282 872570 or email.

 

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May 13th 2013

The Government has recently announced new measures to enable householders to build larger extensions to their homes for a temporary period.

For a period between the 30th May 2013 and 30th May 2016, householders can build single storey extensions up to 8 metres for detached houses and 6 metres for all other houses.

Whilst the original permitted development rights remain, the new larger extensions will be subject to a process similar to prior approval, and a neighbour consultation scheme

If you wish to extend your house, and would like someone else to deal with the bureaucracy and red tape of the planning system, contact Claire on 01282 872570

 

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May 13th 2013

The Government has recently announced new measures to ensure that use is made of empty and underused buildings to provide homes and businesses

New permitted development rights will enable offices to be converted to homes.

High street premises will be able to be used for new types of business without permission.  Buildings that are classed for use as retail, financial services, restaurants, pubs and hot food takeaways, offices, leisure and assembly uses can temporarily change to another use class.

Existing agricultural buildings, less than 500m2, will be able to be utilised for a range of new uses such as shops or offices, to provide more chances for rural businesses to diversify.

Also a series of measures will also facilitate the conversion of existing buildings to become new state-funded schools.  Premises such as offices , hotels, and residential/non-residential institutions will be able to be used as a state funded school for a temporary period.

If you require more information with regards the latest changes in permitted development introduced by the Government please contact Claire on 01282 872570.

 

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May 13th 2013

Want to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan? But not sure where to start?

Why not get help from our award winning team. We are now offering parishes and community groups FREE Training.

BOOK NOW for our special offer of FREE Neighbourhood Planning training. Delivered around England here are just a few comments:

“very useful and a lot to think about!” (Bentham Parish Council).

“helpful and informative… …a valuable source of information” (Simonstone Parish Council).

“everyone got something out of it and they ended up with a greater understanding of the new system.” (Washburn Parish Council)

“thank you… …everyone was pleased and impressed.” (Pontefract Town Council and Pontefract Groups Together)

To book your FREE session call 01282 872570 or email Michael.

Specially designed for parish and town councils, and neighbourhood groups 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 benefit from this special offer telephone Michael Wellock on 01282 872570 or email Michael. 

 

©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants based at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley www.kirkwells.co.uk
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May 11th 2013

Neighbourhood Plan Extract

Town Planning heralded one of its most significant ever changes when on the 6th of April 2012 the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations came in to effect.

These changes mean communities now have the power to plan and shape their neighbourhood. To find out more read on, or call Michael on 01282 872570.

Much talk on neighbourhood planning has centred on existing parishes who are in the advantageous position of being already identified in the Localism Act as “relevant bodies” when seeking to be designated a neighbourhood planning area.

But what about non-parished areas? Areas with, say neighbourhood forums, area boards, or some other less formal local decision-making structure.

For non-parished areas there are additional requirements you will have to meet before you can be designated a neighbourhood forum so that you can prepare a neighbourhood plan.

To be designated a neighbourhood forum if you area a non-parished area you will have to submit an application to your local planning authority. This application must include:

  1. the name of your proposed neighbourhood forum;
  2. a copy of your written constitution of the proposed neighbourhood forum;
  3. the name of the neighbourhood area to which your application relates and a map to identify your area;
  4. contact details of at least one member of the proposed neighbourhood forum; and
  5. a statement explaining how your proposed neighbourhood forum meets conditions contained in section 61F(5) of the 1990 Town and Country Planning Act.

One final hurdle is your forum must have a minimum of 21 members.

Some of the above should be straight forward, but at Kirkwells we know many groups, especially in urban areas, do not have written constitutions, struggle with fluctuating memberships, and overlaps with other neighbourhood groups.

If you are thinking of seeking designation as a neighbourhood forum you will also have to prepare the statement referred to in point 5 above.

This will have to describe how your forum was established for the “express purpose” of promoting or improving social, economic and environmental well-being of your area. You will also have to demonstrate membership of your forum is open to all who live and work in the neighbourhood, and to elected members of the local county council, district council and London Borough Council if you are in London.

You will also have to show your membership is drawn from all parts of the neighbourhood and all sections of the community in your area.

So, all in all, not insurmountable problems but not as easy as being a parish council!

Do you represent an existing neighbourhood group who wants to neighbourhood plan and you are getting to grips with what all this means?

If you are, and you want to discuss designation in more depth, or have another neighbourhood planning question call Mick Wellock on 01282 872570.

Alternatively email michaelwellock@kirkwells.co.uk. Mick will be happy to discuss your issues and provide expert advice.

 

©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants based at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley www.kirkwells.co.uk
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May 6th 2013
Arkholme Village Hall

Arkholme Village Hall

If you area a parish or town council you can now seek to be designated as neighbourhood planning areas.

This will allow you to prepare a neighbourhood plan.

To find out more read this guide, or call 01282 872570 to discuss how you go about seeking a neighbourhood planning designation for your parish or town council.

When applying for designation as a neighbourhood plan area parishes must apply to their local planning authority.

This application must include:

  • a map identifying the area to which the application relates;
  • a statement setting out why the area is considered appropriate as a neighbourhood plan area; and
  • a statement that the organisation is a “relevant body” i.e. a parish council.

What happens after submitting an application?

As soon as receiving an application from a parish council the local planning authority must publicise this on their web site, and  in other appropriate ways. They must also tell people who live in the area, and businesses, how they can make representations on the application. The period for making representations must last at least six weeks.

The local planning authority then have to decide whether to designate the parish as a neighbourhood planning area, or not. In both cases this decision has to be publicised.

So a much easier process than if you are a non-parished area. But if you are a parish seeking a neighbourhood plan designation remember that you will have to prepare a statement to support this course of action, this will be consulted on, and the final decision will rest with the local planning authority. 

Download a pdf of our guide Parishes: How to Become a Neighbourhood Planning Area.

If this Kirkwells’ Comment raises any issues for you on neighbourhood planning call Mick Wellock on 01282 872570, or email michaelwellock@kirkwells.co.uk and Mick will be happy to discuss your problems and advise. 

 

©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 • Sustainable Development • Urban Design • Masterplanning • Heritage Statements • Bids for Funding • Neighbourhood Planning • Community Right to Build • Community Engagement • Training

 


 

 

 

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May 6th 2013

Nigel Farage’s views on this are not yet known but Thame and Exeter St James have voted yes in the next neighbourhood plan referendums, after the yes vote in Upper Eden.

In Thame the Referendum was held on Thursday 2 May 2013.

The question which was asked in the Referendum was:

“Do you want South Oxfordshire District Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for the Thame Area to help it decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?”

Response Votes
YES 2779
NO 855
TURNOUT 39.8 per cent

On a much poorer turnout, than Thame, Exeter St James has voted yes in their neighbourhood plan referendum.

Yes 92%

No 6.2%

Turnout 20.8%

Kirkwells are one of the country’s leading independent experts on neighbourhood planning to find out more click here or call Michael or Louise on:

01282 872570

 

 

 

 

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May 3rd 2013

From today, 1st of May 2013, neighbourhoods can apply for a share of the £9.5 million earmarked by government to support neighbourhood planning.

The funding and direct support is administered by Locality.

Applications are invited in two stages.

Stage 1 - by completing an Eligibility Checker. The eligibility checker can be completed online by answering a series of simple questions. This will help Locality decide if you are eligible for a grant and/or direct support. Direct support will be  expert advice tailored to the individual needs of your area.

If you are eligible Locality will email you a link to an application form within 24 hours.

Stage 2 - will be completing the application form itself.

These government grants will be one of the main ways in which parishes, town councils and neighbourhood fora pay for your neighbourhood plan – reducing the call on your own financial resources, and with a speedy turnaround, helping you get your plan moving.

Neighbourhood plans are key tools in the new planning system, enabling local people to take charge of what happens in their area, and helping to determine future planning applications.

If you need help putting together your funding application or preparing your neighbourhood plan call Michael or Louise on 01282 872570. Or email.

Kirkwells are one of the countries leading independent town planning consultancies supporting communities preparing neighbourhood plans, including government frontrunners and many other areas.

To read the full guide on how to apply (make sure you do this first!), and to access the eligibility checker and application form visit the my community rights Neighbourhood Planning page.

 

©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants based at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley www.kirkwells.co.uk
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May 1st 2013

Following last years withdrawal of the draft Core Strategy York City Council are about to embark on consultation on a new citywide plan. The York Local Plan will guide development for the next twenty years.

York is in the unenviable position of not having a development plan in place.

The consultation on the new plan in May and June 2013 will begin the process to rectify this situation.

The City Council’s plans are ambitious:

  • over 640 hectares of land for almost 22,000 new homes is proposed.
  • this means building between 1,090 and 1,250 new homes each year.
  • to achieve this urban extensions and one new settlement are put forward.
  • a permanent Green Belt, that has never been in place, is proposed.
  • 345 hectares of land will be removed from the Green Belt and designated as safeguarded land.

The York plan will change the city dramatically over the next 20 years, shaping how communities develop, and controlling what owners can and cannot do with their land.

If the York Local Plan affects you and you need to make sure your voice is heard during the consultation Kirkwells planning policy experts can help you. To find out more email or call:

01282 872570

You find out more from the York City Council web site.

 

©Kirkwells Town Planners and Sustainable Development Consultants based at the Lancashire Digital Technology Centre in Burnley www.kirkwells.co.uk
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April 30th 2013

Until 10th of May 2013 Lancaster City Council are inviting landowners, members of the public and prospective developers to put forward any sites they think have potential for housing in the next 15 years.

If you own or know of a site that could be developed for housing and have not put it forward before now is the time.

Sites put forward will be considered by the Council. This could be the first step towards planning permission significantly increasing the value of your site, or helping bring new homes to your local community.

To get expert help to put your site forward call Michael on 01282 872570 or email Michael.

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April 17th 2013