Campaigners have warned that local planning decisions on housing projects in protected areas of the countryside are being overturned by government inspectors using new development laws. Despite promises by ministers to hand more control to communities, campaigners say that decisions by local councils to turn down developments are being routinely overridden by the centralised Planning […]

You may have noticed work taking place all round the Brickworks site, with tree clearing work being carried out ahead of the start of the nesting season. Also, the work involved in moving the Great Crested Newts to their new home is well underway. Both these phases should be completed by May and then, subject to all the necessary details being […]

Today’s Financial Times  carries a letter from a coalition of councils, developers, housing associations, professional bodies and academics, headed by Sir Steve Bullock, executive member for housing at London Councils; Liz Peace, chief executive of the British Property Federation and Grainia Long, chief executive of the Chartered Institute for Housing. The letter urges the Government […]

The Financial Times reports that local authorities across Britain will urge the Chancellor to use the Budget to end restrictions on their ability to borrow money allowing them to build more homes. The Local Government Association will back an amendment to the Growth and Infrastructure Bill which is being discussed in the House of Lords […]

It’s’ party conference time for the Liberal Democrats and the Social Liberal Forum has called on Nick Clegg to back Vince Cable’s demands for higher borrowing to fund housing, school building and infrastructure. The Forum  has expressed concern over the economy and has called for a loosening of the “straitjacket” by building at least 100,000 houses […]

The following paragraph from LGIU Daily News tells us that we are not alone in facing predatory developers in Preston. Fortunately we have a Local Development Framework which is in its final stages and awaits sign off by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Covernment, but just think how much worse things […]

The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has suggested that the Treasury should use record low interest rates to fund housing and infrastructure projects. Mr Cable wrote in the New Statesman: “The more controversial question is whether the Government should not switch but should borrow more, at current very low interest rates, in order to finance more […]

“Housing developments in Preston West will affect all of us with traffic problems and congestion unless there is a real strategy from Lancashire County and Preston City Councils working in harmony on these issues” says County Cllr Bill Winlow. “After drawing local residents attention to Preston’s Preferred Site Allocations at Stoney Butts and off Dodney […]

The Local Government Association (LGA) has pointed out that   greater access to mortgages will be essential in order to increase demand fot housing, with the average first-time buyer deposit now at almost £28,000, up 60 per cent since 2007, while gross mortgage lending has halved since 2007. The LGA is also continuing to push removal […]

“Nick Clegg’s announcement that Preston is to be considered for a City deal is of huge importance to the future economic well-being of the City”, says County Cllr Bill Winlow. If the deal is successfully concluded, it will allow Preston to take on extra powers and responsibilities. The city will have more autonomy over how […]