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The latest news from the planning, building and environment site. 

• Planning decision performance improves in 07-08

  The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) hit 25 per cent more of its key performance targets in 2007-08.

  • Added: 15 May 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Housing and jobs boost for East of England

  A new twenty year vision to deliver badly needed housing, infrastructure and new jobs for the East of England was published today by Communities Minister, Parmjit Dhanda.

  • Added: 12 May 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Twelve experts sign up for eco-towns challenge

  Twelve experts from the worlds of design, the environment, transport and sustainability have signed up to join the Eco-towns Challenge and play a key role in shaping the future of the biggest new towns programme in the UK for forty years.

  • Added: 9 April 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• 15 locations shortlisted for next stage of eco-towns programme

  The country's first eco-towns took a step closer to becoming reality today as Housing Minister Caroline Flint today announced 15 potential locations will go forward to the next stage...

  • Added: 3 April 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• An end to the waiting game for planning decisions

  A new red tape busting review to weed out bureaucratic hurdles and create a more efficient planning service for the public and business, is being launched today (25 March).

  • Added: 25 March 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Zero tolerance approach to commercial vandalism

  Local Government Minister John Healey has announced a no nonsense approach to enforcing changes to empty property reliefs coming into force on 1 April.

  • Added: 25 March 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Crackdown on cowboys to benefit home owners, local authorities and the building industry

  The building industry, local authorities and home owners will all benefit from a shake-up to the building control system proposed by Housing Minister Caroline Flint today which cracks down on illegal construction.

  • Added: 18 March 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Solar power homes get the go-ahead for April start

  New rules to allow homeowners to install solar panels, ground source heat pumps and other microgeneration technologies to help cut carbon emissions were given the green light today by Planning Minister Caroline Flint.

  • Added: 13 March 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Statistical Release: Floorspace and rateable value of commercial and industrial properties - 1 April 2007, England and Wales

  This release is to announce the publication of statistics on commercial and industrial bulk class properties in England and Wales, which is based on information provided by the Valuation Office Agency, and to provide a brief summary of the statistics.

  • Added: 28 February 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Business boost for asset transfer and community enterprise

  Communities Secretary Hazel Blears is joining forces with business to take a more active role in supporting local community enterprise...

  • Added: 27 February 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Government plants seeds for greener, leafier communities

  Ministers will today urge all councils to match the standards of the best to protect their local tree populations.

  • Added: 18 February 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• New powers for councils to raise millions more to support new homes

  Councils who back plans for new homes will be able to raise hundreds of millions of pounds to spend on vital infrastructure like roads, schools, parks and health centres.

  • Added: 24 January 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Delivering a better deal on property searches

  New measures to help deliver faster and cheaper property searches for homebuyers were published today by Junior Housing Minister Iain Wright.

  • Added: 18 January 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• New agency will have key regeneration role

  The Government today set out more details of the work of the Agency which will play a key role in delivering the 3m new homes by 2020 pledged by the Prime Minister - the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).

  • Added: 10 January 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Matthew Taylor Review issues call for evidence - have your say

  Matthew Taylor MP has published his call for evidence, a questionnaire designed to gather stakeholders' opinions, to aid his review into how land use and planning can better support rural business and deliver affordable housing.

  • Added: 19 December 2007
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Kerslake: first head for Homes and Communities Agency

  Sir Bob Kerslake will be the first Chief Executive of the new Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), the Government announced today.

  • Added: 18 December 2007
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Boost for local renewable energy from new planning rules

  A new wave of local renewable energy supply and community power schemes will get government backing today.

  • Added: 17 December 2007
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Helping buyers to make their homes greener and the market more efficient

  From today all homebuyers will benefit from A-G energy ratings which will help them to cut their fuel bills and carbon emissions and first time buyers will see their upfront costs drop...

  • Added: 14 December 2007
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Steady performance on planning applications

  Tables on development control planning applications and decisions; enforcement action; and 'county matters' applications and decisions.

  • Added: 14 December 2007
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• New generation of zero carbon homes move a step closer as carbon challenge gathers pace

  Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper today announced details of the housebuilder who will build England's first eco-village.

  • Added: 14 December 2007
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment