WEB NEWS - 30 NOVEMBER 2004
PLANNING
Home Office, Immigration Accommodation Centre - Bicester
The Home Office have been successful again in the final planning stage for the Bicester Immigration Accommodation Centre. The Secretary of State approved the planning notification in August 2003 and since then Cherwell District Council have been pursuing judicial review through the High Court and now the Court of appeal on a very narrow legal point relating to the use of Circular 18/84. The Court of Appeal dismissed the Council’s appeal at the end of October and Cherwell Council have announced that they will not be appealing to the House of Lords and the Home Office are now proceeding with the detailed design.
For further information please contact Erica Mortimer at erica.mortimer@cgms.co.uk
Tottenham Court Road, London - Corporation of London
Planning permission and conservation area consent have been negotiated with Camden for the alteration and enlargement of two properties owned by the Corporation of London at Tottenham Court Road. The Corporation says that it acquired the site 400 years ago in a land swap with Dick Whittington. It is carrying out one its periodic improvement projects. The scheme includes a two storey glass roof top addition to an early twentieth century building, increased office floorspace, better quality retail (though reduced in area), demolition behind a retained facade in a conservation area and introducing residential on a nearby site. CgMs dealt with the planning and historic buildings aspects.
GENERAL
New Central Government Policy Statements
The Government has started to publish the New Planning Policy Statements (PPS’s), which will replace the old style PPG’s. The first 3 are:
- PPS7 – Sustainable Development in Rural Areas
One of the interesting matters contained in this is the provision for new, high quality, large houses to be built in the open countryside.
- PPS11 – Regional Spatial Strategies
This sets out the procedures for the production of RSS’s by Regional Boards and Assemblies. RSS’s will replace the old style RPG’s.
- PPS12 – Local Development Frameworks
This sets out the content of, and procedure for, preparation of Local Development Frameworks. Although a lengthy document, this PPS is important since LDF’s will be a fundamental set of documents for determining planning applications.
CgMs have prepared a News Bulletin on each of the above and these are attached by links below.
PPS7 – Sustainable Development in Rural Areas
PPS11 – Regional Spatial Strategies
PPS12 – Local Development Frameworks
For further information please contact Erica Mortimer on erica.mortimer@cgms.co.uk
Planning Obligations – For Better or For Worse?
The Draft Revised Circular on Planning Obligations was published for consultation purposes on 2 November 2004. The draft seeks to promote speed, certainty, transparency and accountability. Greater emphasis is to be placed on simplifying the system through measures such as encouraging planning obligation policy to be set out in Local Development Frameworks and Supplementary Planning Documents, standardising heads of terms/agreements/unilateral undertakings/clauses, and introducing an optional planning charge.
CgMs have prepared a summary of the main points in a News Bulletin which is attached by clicking on the link below.
Comments on the draft have to be submitted to ODPM by 25th January 2005 and CgMs would be pleased to advise you further on this.
For Further Information please contact Erica Mortimer or Chris Hicks on erica.mortimer@cgms.co.uk - chris.hicks@cgms.co.uk
CgMs – Planning Newsletter
The first CgMs Planning Newsletter is attached as a web link. Tony Bowhill has prepared this as a consultant to CgMs following the acquisition of Anthony Bowhill & Associates by CgMs.
We hope that you enjoy reading the Newsletter, it covers both interesting appeal decisions and new planning policy issues. Any comments would be gratefully received.
For further information please contact Erica Mortimer on erica.mortimer@cgms.co.uk
CgMs Ranking in 2004 National Survey
Planning’s eighth survey of the consultancy sector examines the current and recent progress of 150 planning consultancies, 112 firms provided income figures which aggregated in excess of £250m.
The following synopsis shows CgMs Ranking for 2003-2004
- Fastest growing planning teams 2000-2004
Rank 2004 = 8 - Leading employers of Chartered Planner 2004
Rank 2004 = 13 - Planning Fee Income 2003-4
Rank 2004 = 14 - Fee Income Commercial Planning 2003-4
Rank 2004 = 9 - Fee Income Retail Planning 2003-4
Rank 2004 = 8 - Fee Income Derivation 2003-4
70% Private Clients
30% Governments Departments
In addition to planning CgMs’ strength also lies in the Archaeology and Historic Buildings sectors which differentiates this company from many of our rivals.
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