PLANNING, HOUSING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

What process does a planning application go through at the local council?

1. Developer seeks advice from planning officers before submitting application. Goes to unitary or district councils in two tier system. Smaller developments are known as permitted developments and are automatically waved through.

2. Council adverstises the application in local planning register and local press

3. Public is consulted included councillors and local people

4. The planning offer writes a report and makes recommendations

5. Application goes to planning committee who have three options: reject, aprove or aprove with conditions

6. Aplicant can appeal to planning Inspectorate is application is rejected

What is a greenfield site?

Sites that have never been developed or remained “fallowed’

e.g: agricultural fields, parks, public gardens.

What is a brownfield site?

Sites that were previously developed and need regenerating.

e.g: abandoned office blocks or carparks

What are listed buildings?

Individual buildings marked by historic England to preserve their historic or architectural significance

There are 3 grades of listing

e.g: Grade 1: Buckingham Palace, Grade 2 Royal Albert Hall, Grade 3: Saville Row

What are conservation areas?

Areas designated by councils/local authorities to maintain the look, layout and feel.

Over 10 conservation areas in England.

What is climate change?

Long term shifts in temperature and weather patterns

Generally believed to have been accelerated by human actions e.g: the burning of fossil fuels which generate green house gasses and trap the suns heat, raising temps and sea levels

Met office predicts UK can expect warmer and wetter winters and hotter and dryer summers

5 issues regarding housing and development ?

• Govt plan to tackle the housing shortage and build 1.5m new homes in the next 5 years

• Reforms planned by the Govt for the planning system which will reduce the impact of non planning based or repetitive objections

• Housing shortages in many towns and cities leading to many families living long term in temporary accomodation

• Concerns from campaigners about the future of the greenbelt amid the push for more housing

• Housing developments that are left unfinished or where community infrastructure promised by developers is not delivered