This article originally appeared in Planning Magazine on 10th February 2017

Manchester Property Networking Breakfast at MIPIM, Cannes

Iceni Projects secured unanimous support from Portsmouth City Council for the mixed-use redevelopment of the former Troxy Cinema site in Fratton.

One of the headlines from the Government’s long awaited Housing White Paper indicates Westminster’s backing for a standard method for a housing supply assessment. It sets out the Government’s intent to consult upon options regarding the introduction of a standardised approach to the assessment of housing requirements, in the hopes that it will allow for a more consistent approach to be established for local authorities lacking an up-to-date plan.

The Housing White Paper has confirmed that the Government proposes to increase planning fees by as much as 40%. The Paper states:

In April 2010 the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was introduced as the Government’s preferred method of collecting developer contributions towards infrastructure. It was intended to provide a more transparent, faster and proportionate system for collecting financial contributions than the S106 route. Less than 6 years after its introduction, many LPAs have steered clear of CIL and the Government commissioned a CIL Review Team in October 2016 to assess its effectiveness and to recommend changes necessary to realign the system with its housing and growth objectives.

Councils should be given powers to charge council tax or other fees on unnecessarily delayed building of permissions.  So says South East England Councils (SEEC) in its new report Unlock the Housing Blockers.

Iceni Projects, an award-winning planning and development consultancy, has opened an office in Glasgow. This is its first outside London. The team bring decades of collective experience in planning and development, advising on high-profile and complex projects across Scotland.

Come and unwind at our pool party, and enjoy a blend of old school tunes and Balearic beats. Loosen your shoes, slip on your shades, and tuck into a first-class brunch and a drop of something measured in engaging company.

Putting the finishing touches on a sustainable development scoreboard