On the 14th and 15th of November 2019, Indea Chawk and Mike Bull from NatureSpace joined Planning Portal at their annual conference held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole. This event was aimed at businesses involved in development delivery within the planning sector. There were many exhibiters including Urbanist Architecture, Built Environment Communications Group (BECG), Esri and the Environment Bank.
Planning Portal is the leading information website for planning and building regulations information and the national planning application service. They work in partnership with every local authority in England and Wales helping to make the planning process simpler and easier for all involved.
The conference agenda was focused on relevant topics within the industry – including a ‘Future of Planning’ keynote address delivered by Lord Matthew Taylor of Goss Moor. This address provided some interesting insights on ‘Brexit’ and what this means for planning, as well as information about the creation of the National Planning Policy Guide (now the National Planning Policy Framework).
At the NatureSpace stand, both Indea and Mike were able to engage and network with representatives from planning, architecture and ecologists as WYG Environmental Planning, RTPI, Objective Corporation, CIAT and FTB Chambers.
Many of our conversations on the day had a recurring theme – great crested newts being a planning constraint and the cause of delays to works, leading to much frustration and angst!
We were delighted to be able to show how the district licensing scheme can support all those involved in development projects where great crested newts may be present. This includes providing support in the local planning authorities, providing a speedier, simpler process for developers, planning agents and ecologists to support their clients, and, not least, delivering big gains in compensatory habitat for great crested newts to improve their conservation status.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion on ‘What does the drive to build more houses mean for planning?’. The panel included Professor Janice Morphet (Visiting Professor UCL), Chris Carr (Director of Federation of Master Builders), John Acres (immediate past president of RTPI) and Jason Longhurst (Director of Regeneration & Business Support at Central Bedfordshire Council, a holder of a GCN District wide licence).
If your Local Authority would like to learn more about how the district licence can offer developments in your area a simpler, quicker and more sustainable licensing option, then please get in touch with us at info@naturespaceuk.com or alternatively ring us on 01865 688307.
Or check out our LPA Benefits leaflet downloadable here
Photo credit: Panel Discussions “What does the drive to build more houses mean for planning?” Planning Portal Conference 2019 © NatureSpace UK
