Michelmores Planning Alert - 15 August 2012
Welcome to the Michelmores Planning Alert, where we bring you a round-up of the latest news and legal developments affecting the industry. We hope that you find this useful and welcome your feedback. Please contact us with any comments or queries. Items in this issue include:
Plans to expand Truro get the go ahead from Communities Secretary…Olympic environmental legacy…John Lewis 'popping up' in Exeter…Marine planning comes to the South West…Freedom to set planning fees still under review.
INOX GROUP'S PLANS TO EXPAND TRURO GET THE GO AHEAD FROM COMMUNITIES SECRETARY
A plan BY Inox Group to expand Truro, through the development of 1,500 homes has been given the go ahead by the Secretary of State for Communities, Eric Pickles. Mr Pickles has said the decision would not be called in for scrutiny. Cornwall Council have already delivered a vote which is in favour of the development.
The homes are to be built over the next 10-15 years on the 160 acre site at Langarth Farm, near Threemilestone. The development is set to include a hotel, restaurant, shops, care home, primary school and 600-space extension to the existing park and ride. The site will also make provision for affordable homes which Mike Varney, chairman of Cornwall Council's strategic planning committee, said were "desperately needed".
Read more...
OLYMPIC ENVIRONMENTAL LEGACY
The Olympics may be over and the Paralympics just around the corner but the Olympic environmental legacy is set to continue long after the sport has finished. It is hoped that not only will a generation have been inspired but also the whole ofEast Londonwill receive lasting benefits from the Olympic Park.
The benefits to the environment include: large numbers of native tree species being planted, vast areas of wildlife habitat created and large areas of brownfield sites cleaned.
The Olympic Park is set to be transformed into a large urban park, once the games have been completed, linking the Thames Estuary to the South and the Hertfordshire countryside to the North.
MARINE PLANNING COMES TO THE SOUTH WEST
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has recently announced that the coast and sea area fromDoverto the River Dart is to become the second area inEnglandto benefit from Marine Planning. There are 10 areas in total which are to benefit from Marine Planning over the next decade.
The idea behind marine plans is to "inform and guide marine users and regulators, managing the sustainable development of marine industries, such as wind farms, shipping, marine aggregates and fishing, alongside the need to conserve and protect marine species and habitats".
The MMO is accountable to, Caroline Spelman, the Environment Secretary, and any plans for consultation and adoption will need her approval by the Environment Secretary.
Steve Brooker, MMO’s head of marine planning, said: “England’s South Inshore and South Offshore marine areas were chosen for their wide range of marine activities that need to co-exist in these busy waters".
FREEDOM TO SET PLANNING FEES STILL UNDER REVIEW
The Government has advised that it is still considering whether to allow local authorities to set their own planning fees unilaterally.
Only 62 per cent of respondents in a recent survey were in favour of the proposals.
The Department for Communities and Local Government is still considering whether the risk that fee increases may encourage people to "circumvent the planning permission".
JOHN LEWIS 'POPPING UP' IN EXETER
The retailer John Lewis has advised that is has submitted an application to Exeter City Council for permission to allow it to set up a "pop up shop" prior to the opening of its new store in the city centre in 6 weeks time. The so called "pop up shop" is only set to stay open until the main store opens its doors to the public.
The planning application contains no structural development to the former men's clothing store. The only works to be done are works to improve this signage which is to coincide with the retailer's lease of the store.
We hope that you have found this Planning Alert useful. We welcome your feedback: please let us know what you thought of this newsletter and if there are any areas that you would like us to include in future issues.
For further information on any of these areas, please contact mark.howard@michelmores.com.
Author: Mark Howard
Category: Property
Last updated: 2012-09-10 19:10:02
