Eventually, forming part of East Staffordshire’s Local Development Framework the Strategic Framework sets out:

• understand what makes Burton upon Trent town centre unique and special;
• set out a vision of where the town centre could be in the next 20 years;
• understand how the town centre operates; and
• provide a coherent strategy to maximise development opportunities.

The Framework highlights potential development on seven existing town centre sites and also identifies eight opportunity sites:

• family Bargains, Horninglow Street;
• Bargates;
• Market Square and Market Hall;
• Former B&Q site, Lichfield Street;
• Bond Street;
• Green Street;
• Station Street; and
• Buildings on George Street.

The Framework also identifies guiding development principles, town centre improvements and transport priorities. 

To download a copy of the document visit the East Staffordshire consultation web site.

Are you interested in the future of Burton upon Trent? If you are and you need expert help to make sure you get your views across during this consultation call Kirkwells on 01282 872570.

This fund will provide short-term finance for projects where groups of self-builders come together to self-build homes at the same time.

These types of projects have struggled in the UK because of the reluctance of lenders to provide finance. But now Self-build groups will be able to bid for a slice of the cash to part fund land acquisition and early development costs with money being repaid on completion of the project.

Grant Shapps said:

“The self-build industry is riding the crest of a wave, with more people than ever wanting control over the design and build of their home. But despite this self-build surge, we continue to lag behind the rest of the world. I am determined to change this so anyone who wants to embark on a self-build project has the opportunity to do so.” (source: DCLG)

Interested in self-build? Read our guide on making sure you get planning permission.

Download your copy from this link - Neighbourhood Planning News Issue 1 May 2012 .

If you want to sign up for future issues just email.

]]> http://kirkwells.co.uk/2012/05/kirkwells-neighbourhood-planning-news/feed/ 0 http://kirkwells.co.uk/2012/05/self-build-dont-leave-planning-until-too-late/ http://kirkwells.co.uk/2012/05/self-build-dont-leave-planning-until-too-late/#comments Thu, 10 May 2012 12:18:01 +0000 MichaelWellock http://kirkwells.co.uk/?p=1827 Continue reading]]> Self Build housing is very much in the news, particularly with the extra support it is being given by central government.

And many people after watching TV shows such as Grand Designs see Self Build as the perfect way of building their dream home.

And if you are thinking of Self Build one thing you must get right in the earliest stages is planning permission. Over the years we have come across many people who have found what they think is the right location for their dream home, bought the land, and engaged an architect to prepare designs only to find out that they cannot obtain planning permission. This may be because it is in Green Belt, or other protected open land, or it may be the site of old farm buildings now considered abandoned and not suitable for redevelopment.

When this happens it can be one of the most devastating events in a persons life – much money has already changed hands and dreams are literally shattered. But these pitfalls are so easy to avoid. How? By making planning the first thing you investigate once you have found a site.

And this is relatively easy to do. Most local councils these days publish their Local Plans or Local Development Frameworks on line. From these pages you will be able to establish the planning policy relating to your particular site, and whether a house would be acceptable in planning terms. But don’t leave things here. Ring the Planners responsible for planning policy to double check. Talk through with them the planning policy relating to your potential site, ask about any particular policy issues your planning application will have to address, ask if policy is likely to change, and ask if the local planning authority have any other non-planning policies, or know of any other issues that could affect the site and its development for housing.

You will probably want to know what the council’s plans are for the land in the area of your potential new home so check this out at the same time.

If you find this daunting you may want to engage a planning consultant to ask the questions for you. You may even want to engage a planning consultant to help in your site search. And if you do engage a planning consultant make sure they are chartered town planners recognised by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) – look for this logo:

Many people, even those who are not planners, will tell you they can get planning approval. But only chartered town planners come with the RTPI’s seal of approval. So be careful you wouldn’t employ a plumber to do the wiring on your dream home!

Once you have satisfied yourself there is every prospect of securing planning approval it is time to negotiate to buy the site subject to receiving that planning approval, and begin working on the thing that probably got you in to this in the first place – the house design! But even now, you cannot forget the fact you still need that all important planning approval. And there is still plenty to be done on this.

Unfortunately, this is not just filling in some forms and submitting your architects drawings. You will probably need a Design and Access Statement, you may have to deal with Community Infrastructure Levy issues, you may be asked for specialist reports on ground conditions, noise, or ecology to name just three. And remember if you do need help the experts in pulling all this together and submitting your application are chartered town planners.

Once your application is submitted you should feel like you are getting somewhere. But don’t forget you may have to deal with questions from the planning officers, neighbours may object, statutory consultees may have comments all of which will need to be dealt with and may entail amendments to your original application. And as that all important Planning Committee date draws near you may need someone to stand up at the meeting to stress the quality and benefits of your proposal. And, hopefully, you get the answer you want a planning approval.

Now you can breathe a sigh of relief: site bought; house designed; planning approved. Just the contractors to deal with now! Oh and before we forget Building Regulations!

So if you are thinking of starting a Self Build project, are looking for a suitable site, or have a site in mind and need to discuss how you secure planning permission remember don’t leave planning until it is too late, and always use chartered town planners.

If you want to know more about the issues raised in this Kirkwell’s Comment just call Claire Parker 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 • Sustainable Development • Urban Design • Masterplanning • Heritage Statements • Bids for Funding • Neighbourhood Planning • Community Right to Build • Community Engagement • Training

Previous consultation on an Issues and Options paper between November 2010 and 18 February 2011 brought forward  over 90 suggested sites for development. These were suggested by developers, agents, landowners and local residents as potential development sites for a variety of uses

During this next period of consultation the Council will produce a preferred option of the ‘Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document’, and a Proposals Map showing the preferred sites.

Seven public consultation ‘drop-in’ sessions have also been arranged.

Further details can be found on the Sites for Preston web page.

Are you interested in the future development of Preston? Do you need expert help in responding to this forthcoming consultation? Call our expert policy planners on 01282 872570 to discuss how we can help you.

©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

Accrington from Peel Park

Hyndburn Council in Lancashire have commenced work on the production of their development management polices by consulting on Issues and Options.

The consultation document poses a number of questions on how future development should be controlled in the Borough.

When complete these policies will form part of the Borough’s Local Development Framework and they will be used to assess and determine planning applications.

If you are concerned about the future of Hyndburn and need support in responding to the Council call our planning policy experts on 01282 872570.

Copies of the Issues and Options document are available here.

The consultation ends on the 18th of June 2012.

©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

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.

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 872570 or email Kirkwells team of experts.

The draft Revised Interim Planning Policy for the Release of Housing Land  sets out the Council’s policy approach to maintaining a five year supply of deliverable housing land. The policy will be used as an interim measure pending the adoption of the Cheshire East Local Plan.

The purpose of the Revised Interim Planning Policy for the Release of Housing Land is to set out policy that will be used to manage the release of additional land for residential development through the consideration of planning applications.

The consultation runs until the 29th of May 2012  for comments on the Revised Interim Planning Policy for the Release of Housing Land and the associated Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment Documents.

For help responding to Cheshire East call 01282 872570, or email michaelwellock@kirkwells.co.uk

The consultation documents can be viewed here.

©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

The three district councils that go to make up Central Lancashire – Chorley, Preston and South Ribble are consulting on five supplementary planning documents (SPDs):

• Affordable Housing
• Controlling re-use of Employment Premises
• Rural Development
• Access to Healthy Food
• Design Guide

These SPDs offer guidance on the interpretation and implementation of relevant planning policies, particularly those in the Central Lancashire Core Strategy.

The consultation runs until the 30th of May. The SPDs will form part of the Local Development Framework for each council.

If you are interested in the future of Central Lancashire and you need expert help to respond to this consultation call us now on 01282 872570.

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 the heart of their communities and new neighbourhood plans hand power back to communities so they can help shape the future development of this crucial part of their local economy.

“This £1 million fund will support local people, businesses and councils coming together to provide a really positive contribution to the future vitality and viability of our high streets.”

Further information on how communities and local authorities developing high street neighbourhood plans under the Localism Act can access the £1milllion will be published by DCLG shortly. We will publish a news update as soon as we hear anything.

If you are concerned about your local high street and want to discuss the positive benefits of neighbourhood planning contact Michael Wellock on 01282 872 570. Or email michaelwellock@kirkwells.co.uk. Also check out one of our low cost neighbourhood planning training sessions.

©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