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Planning News

This page provides a brief introduction to major planning news items affecting the Royal Borough.

Changes to Permitted Development Rights

New legislation extending permitted development rights for dwelling houses comes into force on the 1st October 2008 and represents a significant change to the current system. Follow the link below to find out more about whether or not planning permission is needed. In addition, you should check the original planning permission for your house for any condition restricting what work can be done without planning permission.

Website: Planning Portal

posted: 24/09/2008

Regional Assembly Publishes Partial Review of the South East Plan: Gypsy and Travellers

The South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) has published papers seeking a partial review of the emerging South East Plan on providing places to live for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople.

The consultation runs until 5pm on 21st November 2008 and can be viewed via www.southeast-ra.gov.uk/consultations.html. Copies of the consultation documents have also been made available in the Council's receptions at the Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, and York House, Sheet Street, Windsor.

The papers seek a view on two main issues:

The propsoed number of new spaces for Gypsies, Travellers, and Showpeople in the South East up to 2016; and
Four options for deciding how many spaces go in each council area.

For further information please contact
The Planning Policy Unit
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.
Direct line: 01628 796115
Direct e-mail: Planning.Policy@rbwm.gov.uk

posted: 09/09/2008

Broadway/King Street/Queen Street Triangle Planning Brief

The Council has published a Draft Broadway/King Street/Queen Street Triangle Planning Brief for consultation. Its purpose is to guide the redevelopment of this core area of Maidenhead Town Centre. The Council is holding a six-week period of consultation between 15th August and 26th September 2008. More information can be found on the Broadway/King Street/Queen Street Triangle Planning Brief webpage.

posted: 14/08/2008

Government Publishes Proposed Changes to South East Plan

The Government has published the Secretary of State's proposed changes to the South East Plan for consultation.

Under the changes, the housing target for the South East is proposed to increase from the 32,000 recommended in last year's Panel Report to 33,125 over the 20-year plan period. The annual housing target for the Royal Borough remains at 346 dwellings per annum (dpa) up to 2026, unchanged from the Panel Report.

Policies on a range of issues are set out in the document, including on green infrastructure, climate change and renewable energy. The Government proposes that in advance of new targets being adopted by local authorities, that developments of 10 dwellings or at least 1,000m2 of non-residential floorspace should provide at least 10% of their energy from renewable or low carbon sources, subject to viability.

The proposed changes can be viewed via www.gose.gov.uk, and are out for consultation until 24 October. A final version of the plan is expected to be issued early next year.

For further information please contact
Peter Hitchen, Planning Policy Manager,
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead,
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.
Direct line: 01628 796115
Direct e-mail: Peter.Hitchen@rbwm.gov.uk

posted: 17/07/2008

Government Publishes Proposed Changes to Town Centre Policy

The Government has published draft revisions to Planning Policy Statement 6 for consultation.

The changes proposed replacing the 'needs' test for shopping proposals whereby shopping proposals outside town centres have to demonstrate either a quantitative or qualitative need to obtain permission, with a new 'impact' test. The impact test would cover considerations such as:

Whether the proposal is in line with the areas' development plan;
The impact on existing, committed and planned public and/or private sector investment in a centre;
Whether the proposal is of an appropriate scale;
Whether there will be an impact on trade/turnover;
The impact on town centre vitality and viability, including local consumer choice and retail diversity in terms of the range, type and quality of goods.

Schemes are likely to be unacceptable in impact terms where:

They fail to secure a high quality design;
They fail to take opportunities for improving the character and quality of the area;
Fail to deliver wider sustainable development objectives.

The draft PPS is out for consultation until 3 October 2008 and can be downloaded via the CLG website at www.communities.gov.uk.

posted: 10/07/2008

Launch of Planning Performance Agreements

The voluntary Planning Performance Agreement (PPA) system has now been launched. This allows applicants promoting complex developments to agree a timetable for the consideration of the application. By agreeing a process of what needs to be done, when and by whom it is hoped that PPAs will reduce problems associated with complex applications. All PPAs that meet agreed timetables will be excluded from the standard 13 week decision threshold.

Best practice guidance and case studies on PPAs is available to download from the Advisory Team for Large-scale Applications (ATLAS): www.atlasplanning.com

For further information please contact
Graham Stallwood, Development Control Manager
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead,
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.
Direct line: 01628 796042
Direct e-mail: Graham.Stallwood@rbwm.gov.uk

posted: 09/06/2008

Local Development Framework Process Changes

From the 27th June, the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 will come into force. The Government has also updated Planning Policy Statement 12: Local Spatial Planning.

The revised process includes:

A simplied tests of soundness based on a review of legal requirements and whether the plan is 'justified', 'effective' and 'consistent with national policy';
Removal of the 'Preferred Options' consultation;
Amending consultation arrangements so that representations are are made before submission of the plan to the Secretary of State;
Clarification of the proportionality of sustainability appraisals;
Reduced adminstrative burden on local authroities by requiring fewer paper copies to be distributed.

The new Regulations and PPS12 can be downloaded from the Office of Public Sector Information (external link) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (external link) websites.

For further information on this subject please contact:
Planning Policy Unit,
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead,
Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF.
Direct line: 01628 796115
Direct e-mail: Planning.Policy@rbwm.gov.uk

posted: 09/06/2008

Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead (PRoM)

The Partnership for the Rejuvenation of Maidenhead (PRoM), a cross-party group created by the council with independent chairman charged with steering the regeneration has been launched.

PRoM is pursuing actions on three fronts:

Devising a master plan and strategy which will include development briefs for key areas;
Looking to progress one or more of these as a priority; and
Ensuring that its work on a vision for the town centre runs parallel to and informs the Local Development Framework.

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment

The Council has begun work on a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment, or SHLAA. This technical study is a government requirement of planning authorities and will assess potential housing sites and broad areas for housing, informing the Local Development Framework (LDF), specifically the Delivery and Development Principles Development Plan Document. It will provide evidence of a five-year supply of sites that are deliverable and developable, and assess the longer term housing supply to at least 2026.

If you own, or have an interest in a site that you think should be considered to meet development needs and requirements, it is important that you inform the Council of its potential availability. For further information please vist the Development Sites webpage.