An article examined the potential benefits of giving local communities a greater role in planning for housing, and whether it could be effective in reducing opposition to new housing.
Source: John Sturzaker, 'Can community empowerment reduce opposition to housing? Evidence from rural England', Planning Practice and Research, Volume 26 Issue 5
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Dec
An article examined urban and housing policy in Australia and England, and considered planning system performance in securing new affordable homes.
Source: Nicole Gurran and Christine Whitehead, 'Planning and affordable housing in Australia and the UK: a comparative perspective', Housing Studies, Volume 26 Issue 7-8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Nov
A new book examined the impacts of 'social mix' policies in urban planning, and the degree to which they might represent gentrification by stealth.
Source: Gary Bridge, Tim Butler, and Loretta Lees (eds.), Mixed Communities: Gentrification by stealth?, Policy Press
Links: Summary
Date: 2011-Oct
The government began consultation on proposals to give local councils in England more financial freedoms to improve, buy, and build new housing. Councils would have more flexibility to trade their assets, and use the receipts to enable further investment in new homes and regenerating the local area.
Source: Streamlining Council Housing Asset Management: Disposals and use of receipts, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Consultation document | DCLG press release | Inside Housing report
Date: 2011-Aug
A briefing paper examined attempts by governments to use the planning system to stimulate housebuilding.
Source: Christopher Barclay, Housing Targets and Planning, Standard Note SN/SC/3741, House of Commons Library
Links: Briefing paper
Date: 2011-Jul
An article examined the status of design in the private sector house-building industry in Scotland, and the connexions between housing design and wider planning department responsibilities including land-use planning and management. A more 'widely embedded' understanding of the design implications of land-use planning and management decisions was needed in order to optimize conditions for good design.
Source: Harry Smith, Soledad Garcia Ferrari, and Paul Jenkins, 'The role of planning in housing design: design implications of land-use management', Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, Volume 29 Number 3
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jun
The coalition government tabled an amendment to its Localism Bill that would allow local councils in England to accept government funding in return for approving development plans, in an attempt to circumvent legal doubts over the linking of planning decisions to financial rewards under the 'New Homes Bonus' scheme. Another amendment opened up membership of neighbourhood forums – local groups that would be empowered to draw up planning documents for their communities – to businesses with links to the area.
Source: Amendments tabled 10 May 2011, Department for Communities and Local Government, TSO
Links: Amendments | CPRE press release | BPF press release
Date: 2011-May
A think-tank paper said that the government should make it much easier to change the use of buildings and land from retail/employment to dwelling houses. Such a step would be part of a wider programme of planning reform, designed to move away from the existing top-down 'plan-led' system towards a collaborative and flexible model.
Source: Alex Morton and Richard Ehrman, More Homes: Fewer Empty Buildings – Reform of the use classes order, Policy Exchange
Links: Paper | Living Streets press release | HOC research note
Date: 2011-Mar
A report examined the use of civil, rather than criminal, sanctions for non-compliance with building regulations.
Source: Greenstreet Berman, The Use of Civil Sanctions to Enforce Building Regulations: Final Report, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Feb
A scoping study examined possible ways of improving the planning and building regulations systems in England and Wales from the perspective of sustainability.
Source: Faber Maunsell, Building Regulations System and the Planning System: A better regulation approach for sustainability, Department for Communities and Local Government
Links: Report
Date: 2011-Feb
An article used an historical analysis to examine the tension between the ideal and the practice of involving people in the planning process.
Source: Peter Shapely, 'Planning, housing and participation in Britain, 1968-1976', Planning Perspectives, Volume 26 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2011-Jan
