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Tewkesbury Civic SocietyProtecting Tewkesbury's Architectural Heritage and ensuring today's developments add positively to it.
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Policies
GENERAL
Change is afoot.
The Government claims it is intent on getting more houses built. Every ambition for new homes built has fallen short year on year. It recognises that demand exceeds supply so driving up prices and making it increasingly difficult for younger people to own their own home.
No one would quarrel with these facts nor not want them changed.
The differences arise when the Government announces its solution, the proposed plans to change the Planning System which it blames for most of the problem!
The Government claims it is intent on getting more houses built. Every ambition for new homes built has fallen short year on year. It recognises that demand exceeds supply so driving up prices and making it increasingly difficult for younger people to own their own home.
No one would quarrel with these facts nor not want them changed.
The differences arise when the Government announces its solution, the proposed plans to change the Planning System which it blames for most of the problem!
The proposals include zoning. New homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices would be allowed automatically in “growth” areas. In “renewal” zones, largely urban and brownfield sites, proposals would be given “permission in principle” subject to basic checks. Green belt and areas of outstanding natural beauty would be protected.
Civic Voice has created a briefing document, see it HERE
Critics, who include the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and other professional bodies as well as the Government’s political opponents, strongly oppose the changes seen in the Government’s White Paper. They claim that although some Planning reform is necessary, it is really the developers who have large land banks that are to blame, having a vested interest in keeping the value of those and that of homes themselves high.
Critics call this notion a “Developers’ Charter”!
Critics also claim a loss of democratic and local representation whilst the Government claims the opposite.
Additionally, the Government has added to the list of Permitted Developments (the things one can build without specific Planning Permission), including allowing adding two stories to certain properties. The aim is to reduce the need to move home when the family unit grows and for freeholders of purpose-built flat blocks to add more units. There are restrictions, conditions and checks but again, critics claim there will be a lowering of standards and slums will result.
There is a list of links below to sites or documents that either explain the facts or argue the case for or against these changes and proposals.
Policy Exchange (Think Tank) report (Influence)
Planning for the future (Government setting out its stall)
Living with Beauty (Influence)
The White Paper
Local Government Association response
Town and Country Planning Association response
Independent Group of Planning Academics Report
RIBA response
Permitted Development extensions announcement
RIBA response
Meanwhile present systems obtain and we describe on this site how they work and relate to one another.
The Society hopes that any changes made do not lower the standards of the buildings we use and see in the wider context. However, our interests are largely confined to the Conservation Area here with its huge content of Listed Buildings and we understand that a lot of any change will not affect those.
Critics, who include the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and other professional bodies as well as the Government’s political opponents, strongly oppose the changes seen in the Government’s White Paper. They claim that although some Planning reform is necessary, it is really the developers who have large land banks that are to blame, having a vested interest in keeping the value of those and that of homes themselves high.
Critics call this notion a “Developers’ Charter”!
Critics also claim a loss of democratic and local representation whilst the Government claims the opposite.
Additionally, the Government has added to the list of Permitted Developments (the things one can build without specific Planning Permission), including allowing adding two stories to certain properties. The aim is to reduce the need to move home when the family unit grows and for freeholders of purpose-built flat blocks to add more units. There are restrictions, conditions and checks but again, critics claim there will be a lowering of standards and slums will result.
There is a list of links below to sites or documents that either explain the facts or argue the case for or against these changes and proposals.
Policy Exchange (Think Tank) report (Influence)
Planning for the future (Government setting out its stall)
Living with Beauty (Influence)
The White Paper
Local Government Association response
Town and Country Planning Association response
Independent Group of Planning Academics Report
RIBA response
Permitted Development extensions announcement
RIBA response
Meanwhile present systems obtain and we describe on this site how they work and relate to one another.
The Society hopes that any changes made do not lower the standards of the buildings we use and see in the wider context. However, our interests are largely confined to the Conservation Area here with its huge content of Listed Buildings and we understand that a lot of any change will not affect those.
