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network news
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april 2002
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Welcome to the fourth E-newsletter from ROOM's Positive Planning Unit
This letter is emailed to all members of the Positive Planning Network (PPN) and updates you on
the initiatives undertaken as part of the DTLR-supported Positive Planning Project
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n This edition includes:
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Update on ...
First National Positive Planning Conference
Securing improvement and excellence in planning practice
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which took place on the 22 March 2002 at the Cavendish Conference Centre, London. The conference organised by ROOM in conjunction with the Planning Officers Society (POS) was very successful with workshops convened by leading planning practitioners and consultants on affordable housing, urban renewal, planning obligations, rural regeneration, development control, regional planning, integrated transport planning and development plans. The Conference brought together the lessons from the work of ROOM's Positive Planning Unit and the Planning Officers' Society on best value and 'moving towards excellence'. The conference provided the opportunity to explore how planning practice needs to evolve in response to the agenda for reform set out in the Government's Green Paper.
Positive Planning Unit at ROOM have had very positive feedback from delegates concerning the format, content and organisation of the event and there was particular appreciation of the workshop sessions and the focus on planning practice. ROOM is intending to produce a conference report to be available in May.
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n Briefing Papers: Now Available ...
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Delivering the Urban and Rural White Papers: positive planning in action
The third Positive Planning briefing paper 'Delivering the Urban and Rural White Papers: positive planning in action' was published in March. The paper specifically identifies references to the role of the town and country planning system in delivering objectives set out in the Urban and Rural White Papers published in November 2000.
The Government's modernising agenda places increasing emphasis on achieving locally-generated answers to local problems, whether in regeneration, village planning, or urban extensions. This Briefing paper demonstrates how land use planning has been used to deliver key Government objectives through descriptions of 13 case studies from across England. The Birmingham case study, for example, demonstrates how the City Council's Planning Department has taken a leading role in tackling the low demand housing problems in its central area estates of Lee Bank, Woodview and Benmore, now collectively known as Attwood Green. The Council has adopted a more holistic approach to review the social problems on the estate through increased community and resident involvement. This case illustrates how some residential areas can be put on the road to recovery, despite suffering serious physical, social and economic deterioration. This depends on a realistic prospect of environmental improvement, together with private investment to assist tenure diversification and a wider variety of land uses.
Alongside issues such as local regeneration and ways of tackling areas of low demand for housing, the Briefing paper covers:
- Techniques for simplifying development plans
- How to create local distinctiveness or a 'sense of belonging' in local regeneration areas
- Home Zones
- Housing Key Workers
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- Providing affordable housing in rural areas
- Farm diversification
- Farmland Protection and waste management
- Village design statements and
- The incorporation of town and village plans into development plans
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Copies of the Briefing Paper can be obtained at £10 per copy (reduced price for bulk orders) from the Positive Planning Unit at ROOM.
Coming soon...
The following two Positive Planning Briefing Papers should be available shortly:
Providing Rural Affordable Housing: 'Enabling dialogue with the private sector' and 'A Review of best practice associated with the preparation of Regional Planning Guidance'.
If you require further information about the work of ROOM's Positive Planning Unit contact Sukhpreet Seyan at ROOM on 020 7251 2363 or email: positive.planning@room.org.uk
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The February/March/April edition of axis, the journal for housing planning and regeneration published by ROOM includes an article on the Government's agenda for Reform of the planning system by Neil Sinden.
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The article explores the mounting evidence of disquiet among NGOs, planning professionals and local government concerning aspects of the reform agenda.
Published bi-monthly, axis is the Journal of Housing, Planning and Regeneration. axis carries regular articles on positive planning and provides a channel for information and ideas from leading researchers and analysts. It also includes book reviews and details of room's national events. To subscribe to axis email: chris.griffin@room.org.uk
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E-News is produced by ROOM's Positive Planning Unit
contact details:
ROOM, the National Council for Housing and Planning
Address: 14 Old Street, London EC1V 9BH
E-mail: positive.planning@room.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7251 2363
For membership: donna.penaydo@room.org.uk
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