06/07/2009
HPP gain planning permission for innovative large extension to small historic cottage in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Site: The Old Bull Pens, Nr Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
The site comprises a small 1 bedroom Cotswold stone barn conversion. Originally a bull pen building, the site forms part of a historic complex of Cotswold vernacular stone barns. The site is located within a designated Conservation Area and the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Click heading for more info.
06/07/2009
The publication of the South West regional spatial strategy (RSS) is being delayed while the government waits to see if the recent successful legal challenge against the East of England Plan affects it.
The strategy had been due to be issued by the end of June but this week the Government Office for the South West (GOSW) wrote to all the region’s local authorities to explain the latest position. Click heading for more info.
06/07/2009
Two councils have launched legal challenges over the government's requirement to build thousands of homes on green belt land in their areas in the South East Plan.
Guildford Borough Council and South Oxfordshire District Council have served legal papers to the High Court. Click heading for more info.
06/07/2009
Local authorities have been urged to be more flexible in granting planning permissions with longer time limits following new rules to extend existing consents. Click heading for more info.
06/07/2009
Shadow planning minister Bob Neill has confirmed the Conservatives would scrap the pre-determination rule that bars politicians who have spoken out on planning applications from sitting on related committees.
Speaking at the 2009 RTPI conference on Friday, shadow planning minister Bob Neill said: "We would scrap the pre-determination rule that at the moment means that if a member of a planning authority makes a comment on an application then they are then debarred from taking part in it. Most people outside our professional world think that is just potty. Click heading for more info.
29/05/2009
The pace of decline in the construction sector is easing, according to the latest RICS construction market survey.
Construction workloads remained in negative territory for the fourth consecutive quarter with 45 percent more surveyors reporting a fall rather than a rise in overall workloads in the first quarter, up from a net balance of -47. Click heading for more info
29/05/2009
HPP recently gained permission via appeal for a small residential scheme near Stroud in Gloucestershire.
In this case, the wider curtilage benefits from an extant outline consent for two dwellings to the north of the proposal site. The proposal includes the provision of two additional dwellings on the southern section, while retaining an existing property. A total of five dwellings would therefore be provided on the site. Click heading for more info.
29/05/2009
No eco towns will make the government's shortlist unless they meet the highest standards, housing minister Margaret Beckett insisted last night. Click heading for more info.
29/05/2009
Commercial news: HPP secures permission for large industrial extension in Cotswolds
On behalf of Godwin Pumps Limited, Hunter Page Planning has successfully secured planning permission for a large factory extension to their manufacturing plant in Quenington, Cirencester. The rural location of the site and its constrained nature both in terms of size and very close proximity to neighbouring residential properties presented a challenging planning brief. Click heading for more info.
29/05/2009
The government must rethink its East of England Plan after High Court ruling.
High Court judge, Mr Justice Mitting, has ruled mostly in favour of Hertfordshire County Council and the District Council of St Albans, who had banded together to attack the plan, which they claimed would add substantial levels of new housing to an already congested area that currently helps perform a vital Green Belt function around Greater London. Click heading for more info.