Press Release from DCLG the announcement by the Housing Minister Grant Shapps MP on the Community Right to Build proposals, which will give community organisations the freedom to give the 'green light to new local developments' without planning permission.' 23/07/10 Download this here
Press Release from DCLG on the Secretary of State for Comunities and Local Government, The Rt Hon Eric Pickles MPs' intention in principle to abolish regional government with final decisions to be made at the end of the Spending Review. 22/07/10 Download this here
The Big Society Speech given by the Prime Minister announcing the governments plans to give local communities more power. Also announced is the creation of 'The Big Society Bank' to help finance social enterprises, local charities and voluntary groups etc. 19/07/10 Dowload this here
The DCLG Structural Reform Plan outlining the departments intentions for reforms to 'decentralise power as far as possible' and to 'make localism and the Big Society part of everyday life'. Also included, is an estimated timescale of changes to be implemented, with detail of dates for the Localism Bill and other reforms. 08/07/10 Download this here
Letter from the Chief Planning Officer at the Department for Communities and Local Government confirming the revocation of the Regional Strategies. Also including Technical Guidance for Local Authorities following the Parliamentary Statement by the Secretary of State. 06/07/10 Download this here
Parliamentary Statement confirming the revocation of the Regional Strategies by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government The Rt Hon Eric Pickles. 06/07/10 Download this here
Westminster Hall Debate on the Regional Spatial Strategies secured by Mark Lancaster MP for Milton Keynes North with information from the Parliamentary Under Secretary at DCLG Robert Neill MP on the legal implications of 'the Pickles Letter' the process by which the RSSs will be scrapped and the need for more guidance to come 'very soon'. 30/06/10 Download this here
Press Articles published in the Financial Times on industry reaction to the abolition of the RDAs, closure of the Infrastructure Planning Commission. Facts also included on what has been announced so far with critics verdicts and the reaction of the Financial Times, on the RDAs, Infrastructure, Climate Change and the Green Bank. 30/06/10 Download this here
Written Statement from Minister of State, Deparment for Communities and Local Government Greg Clark MP on Planning Reform including information on the abolition of the Infrastructure Planning Commission, National Planning Statements, as well as the Transitional Arrangements until new legislation is in place. 29/06/10 Download this here
Speech Given by Housing Minister Grant Shapps MP to the Community Land Trusts Conference with reference to the localism agenda being pushed forward by the Coalition Government with more detail on where investment must go from development. 29/06/10Download this here
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP launches £1 billion Regional Growth Fund aimed at helping areas particularly effected by the Governments public spending cuts. Press release from DCLG 29/06/10 Download this here
Press Release from DCLG confirming the abolition of the Infrastructure Planning Commission to be replaced by a "new rapid and accountable system where Ministers, not unelected commissioners, will take the decisions on new infrastructure projects." 29/06/10Download this here
Letter to all Local Authorities inviting them to submit proposals to establish Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) from The Rt. Hon Vince Cable MP Secretary of State for Business, Innovation & Skills and The Rt. Hon Eric Pickles Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. 29/06/10Download this here
Article Published in the Daily Telegraph on households being offered a reduction in council tax bills to persuade them to give the go ahead to controversial building projects. Headline reads "Tax 'bribes' to head off Nimby protest" 29/06/10Download this here
The Royal Town Planning Institute, Planning Aids' Good Practice Guide to Public Engagement in Development Schemes highlighting the importance of well thought out community involvement. 28/06/10 Download this here
Article from Regeneration & Renewal outlining the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills intention to, invite local authorities to submit proposals to establish, Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs). Described in the Governments' Coalition Agreement as, "joint local authority - business bodies brought forward by local authorities themselves to promote economic development". 28/06/10 Download this here
Press Release from DCLG relating to a speech given by Planning Minister Bob Neill MP to the National Planning Forum where he sets out the 'future of local planning' giving more detail on the localism agenda under the Coalition Government. 24/06/10 Download this here
The Royal Town Planning Institutes' (RTPI) response to the Coalition Governments' Emergency Budget asking how planners can show their contribution is central to local survival. 22/06/10Download this here
The British Property Federations' (BPF) response to the Coalition Governments' Emergency Budget including analysis on 17 different areas effecting the property industry within the UK. 22/06/10 Download this here
BUDGET 2010 UPDATE - National Infrastructure Plan and Local Development Orders 22/06/10 at 1503hrs Download this here
The Coalition's Emergency Budget containing a wide range of cuts and reforms designed to be "tough but also fair" and "pays for the past and plans for the future." Wednesday 20th October has also been announced as the date for the Comprehensive Spending Review. 22/06/10 For an overview click here
Article published in The Times on Government plans to overhaul council tax to fund the building of new homes for first-time buyers and families. Housing Minister Grant Shapps indicating his plans to incentivise the development of new houses by ‘matching the council tax revenues collected from these homes’. 12/06/10Download this here
Advice produced by The Planning Inspectorate for use by its Inspectors in light of the letter from The Rt Hon Eric Pickles to local authorities highlighting the Coalition Governments commitment to rapidly abolish Regional Spatial Strategies. 10/06/10Download this here
The new a version of PPS 3 includes an amended definition of “previously developed land” to exclude private residential gardens and removes the national indicative minimum density of 30 dwellings per hectare. 09/06/10Download this here
Housing Adjournment Debate addressing the issues surrounding affordable housing, housing in rural areas, housing supply, RSSs and the role of local councillors in campaigning against local development 08/06/10 Download this here
Written Answers to questions put to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on housing development, Green Belt development, HCA funding and transitional arrangements surrounding the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies 08/06/10 Download this here
The HBFs’ (Home Builder Association) Member Briefing of the first public speech of Grant Shapps MP as Minister for Housing and Local Government at the RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) outlining his priorities for the housing industry. 08/06/10 Download this here
Former Housing Minister Nick Raynsfords’ statement made at the TCPAs’ (Town and Country Planning Association) ‘Making Planning Work’ conference outlining his ‘deeply sceptical’ views on the ‘untested’ planning reforms proposed by the coalition government 03/06/10Download this here
TCPA (Town and Country Planning Association) Press Release on Bob Neill MPs’ first address to the planning community since the general election and his response to the TCPAs’ ‘The Future of Planning Report: distilling the TCPA roundtable debates .’ 03/06/10 Download this here
The Future of Planning Report: Distilling the TCPA roundtable debates The TCPAs’ (Town and Country Planning Association) report on the future of the Planning industry under the new coalition Government and a foundation for the TCPA’s engagement with future planning reform. 03/06/10Download this here
Written Questions to the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government on whether steps are to be taken to scrap Regional Spatial Strategies prior to the introduction of primary legislation, the timetable for scrapping Regional Spatial strategies. 03/06/10Download this here
Written Questions to the Secretary of State for the Department for Communities and Local Government on devolving planning powers to local authorities to meet affordable housing targets, any plans for amendments to the Planning Policy Statement 3, what steps have been taken to ensure meeting national assessments of housing needs and for a statement on Regional Spatial Strategies. 02/06/10Download this here
Press Release from the Department for Communities and Local Government outlining a letter written by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles to ‘call a halt to the urban sprawl that is threatening the Green Belt around 30 towns across the country’31/05/10Download this here
The Appointment of The Rt. Hon Danny Alexander MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury 31/05/10Download this here
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Rt. Hon David Laws MP resignation letter to the Prime Minister 29/05/10 Download this here
Letter from Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to local authorities outlining the coalitions agreements commitment to the rapid abolition of the Regional Strategies to be regarded as a material planning consideration 27/05/10 Download this here
The Home Builder’s Federations’ (HBF) response to the announcement of cuts in Kickstart Funding and its ramifications on economic recovery and jobs. 25/05/10 Download this here
The Royal Town Planning Institutes’ (RTPI) response to the Queen’s Speech and the ‘Decentralisation and Localism Bill’, A warning that abolition of major parts of the planning system without an alternative in place puts economic recovery at risk. 25/05/10Download this here
The Town and Country Planning Associations’ (TCPA) response to the Queen’s Speech and the ‘Decentralisation and Localism Bills’ ‘profound influence over the future direction of the planning system.’ 25/05/10 Download this here
Queen's Speech. At the State Opening of Parliament, Her Majesty the Queen announced the Governments' intentions for the future of housing and planning decisions. For full text of the Queen's Speech 25/05/10 Download this here
The full coalition agreement for the Conservative Lib Dem Government and specifically Section 4 outlining their intentions for Communities and Local Government published on 20/05/10 - Download this here
For a Full List of Her Majesty's Government appointed on 13/05/10click here
The Conservative Open Source Planning Green Paper. Proposals by the Conservative Party on reforming the planning system 22/02/10,Download this here
Caroline Spelmanspeech from Conservative Party Conference, 5/10/09, click here
Grant Shapps speech from Conservative Party Conference, 6/10/09click here
George Osbornespeech from Conservative Party Conference, 6/10/09 click here
Positive Engagement, a Guide for Planning Councillors: this Government briefing note sets out how councillors must actively engage during pre-application. Download this here.
Planning Community Needs:a guide to effective Section 106 agreements and Statements of Community Involvement.Download this here.
Planning Bill (November 2007): introduces a new system for nationally significant infrastructure planning, alongside further reforms to the town and country planning system. For a copy of the Planning Billclick here.
Planning Policy Statements (PPS): these national planning policies are gradually replacing Planning Policy Guidance notes (PPG).Download here.
Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG): to find the latest news releases from this important Government department,click here.
