A scheme that includes a new 3 million tonne per annum (Mtpa) electric arc furnace at Port Talbot steelworks has gained planning consent following a detailed planning process, including environmental impact assessments (EIA). In September 2023, the UK government and Tata Steel UK Limited (Tata Steel) announced a £1.25 billion
Planning permission has been granted for a new Sand Sports Centre at Hove Beach Park, following a decision by councillors at the Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, 5 March. The proposal, submitted by Yellowave Brighton, includes the development of three sand courts for beach volleyball, beach tennis and footvolley, as
Newcastle City Council planners have approved crucial enabling works that will unlock a multi-million pound mixed-use development in the heart of Newcastle. With One Public Estate brownfield funding already secured for the site, the unanimous decision today (March 7) now allows for the first phase of clearance and remediation within
Birmingham City Council has submitted a planning application to regenerate Druids Heath, proposing the construction of approximately 3,500 new energy-efficient homes. The development will also include enhanced green spaces, improved infrastructure, and revitalised commercial and community areas. A key focus of the project is the provision of affordable housing, with
Developers are facing construction delays of more than 18 months and additional costs of up to £49,000 per week due to safety regulations such as the Building Safety Act (BSA), according to new data from the Purposeful Finance Commission (PFC). A report published today by the PFC highlights how the
Plans for a cutting-edge new Extra Care scheme in South Shields have been submitted for approval. The much-needed specialist accommodation, developed and managed by housing association Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, would consist of 124 one and two-bed apartments, designed to help people with differing levels of
Persimmon Homes Wessex has submitted an outline planning application for the construction of up to 624 new homes in the Grove and Wantage area, further expanding its Wellington Gate development. The proposed development, located to the north-west of Grove, will be adjacent to the existing Wellington Gate site. In addition
By Robert Oates, CEO of leading UK ecology consultancy, Arbtech Having spent the last few weeks providing responses to the Government’s Planning Reform working paper ‘Development and Nature Recovery’ both in writing and in person at the House of Lords, one opportunity we keep pressing is the need for greater
A four-week planning inquiry has commenced over a controversial proposal to transform Green Belt land south of Marlow—part of the Little Marlow Lakes Country Park—into a £750 million film studio complex. The ambitious development includes 18 sound stages, workshops, office spaces, and a vast backlot. Buckinghamshire Council previously refused planning
As the government announces its plans for the next generation of news towns, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) emphasises the critical role of a well-resourced planning system in delivering this vision. Research from the RTPI shows that public spending on planning dropped 16% from 2009 to 2022. Reforming planning without
A scheme that includes a new 3 million tonne per annum (Mtpa) electric arc furnace at Port Talbot steelworks has gained planning consent following a detailed planning process, including environmental impact assessments (EIA). In September 2023, the UK government and Tata Steel UK Limited (Tata Steel) announced a £1.25 billion joint investment in the development of electric arc furnace-based steelmaking at Port Talbot to replace the coal-fired blast furnaces that have been in operation for more than 50 years. The proposals reflect Tata Steel’s long-term commitment to the production of ‘green’, low-carbon steel at Port Talbot, securing the future of steelmaking in the region and making a significant contribution to the achievement of ambitious Welsh and UK government net zero policies. Data provided in the environmental statement (RSK, 2024) indicate that greenhouse gas emissions avoided with the electric arc furnace compared with the continuation of traditional steelmaking methods are equivalent to nearly 2% of UK and 23% of Wales emissions (2027 equivalent). RSK Environment Director Rob Edwards, who led the EIA process, said: “Environmental impact assessments are required to support planning applications for major infrastructure projects, ensuring that local councils, communities and consultees understand possible environmental impacts and proposed measures to mitigate these before approving the plans. RSK Environment has coordinated the EIA work as the environmental lead for Tata Steel, working closely with the Tata Steel team, planning consultant Turley, architects Lawray, and Temple Group and JBA Consulting, both of which contributed EIA technical chapters. “Approval of the planning application is the culmination of more than three years of work from the project team. At its peak, more than 20 specialists from across the business were working on-site at any one time – this has resulted in the submission of more than 250 documents in support of the application, highlighting the scale, complexity and level of detail involved in a planning application and EIA of this nature.” As part of the EIA, a wide range of information was gathered from site surveys and assessments covering matters such as ground conditions, habitats and species, traffic and noise levels, air emissions, views of the site and population and demographic data. Rob explained: “The EIA team was required to coordinate and present this huge volume of information in the form needed to support the planning application. This involved liaising extensively with Tata Steel, the wider planning team and the local council to identify where mitigation or amendments to the scheme were necessary to overcome identified environmental concerns.” RSK Group businesses involved in delivering the environmental assessments for the project included Stephenson Halliday (landscape and visual design), RSK Acoustics (noise and vibration), RSK Biocensus (biodiversity), RSK Geosciences (land, soil and groundwater), WRc (peat assessments), Headland Archaeology (cultural heritage), SCP (transport and access), EB7 (lighting assessment) and ADAS (tree surveys). CJ Associates, Ian Farmer Associates and RSK Ordnance Management supported the completion of the ground investigation. Rob added: “Because of the scale of the planning application boundary – well over 100 hectares – the area covered by the proposed development cannot readily be described as a single ‘site’. It includes land with a wide range of different characteristics, including agricultural land, brownfield land and the existing structures of the steelworks. The EIA needed to reflect this and describe the environmental effects across all parts of the site; these were not always the same across all areas. The relationship with the historic steelworks also added complexity, with the electric arc furnace proposals needing to be considered against the context of those activities and their associated environmental impacts. “In addition to the greenhouse gas savings, the project will also result in significant reductions of air emissions, as well as reduced road traffic and remediation of previously developed parts of the steelworks. RSK is proud to be associated with a project that delivers so many environmental benefits, while securing the future of steelmaking in Port Talbot and Wales”. The planning proposals allow for green infrastructure and re-landscaping of the surrounding site to deliver ‘biodiversity net benefit’ in line with Welsh national planning policy. This will involve a range of ecological enhancements and landscaping measures focused on the southern end of the site, which is generally the most visible to the public. This will include new areas of wetland, scrub and grassland. Rob said: “In advising Tata Steel on how it may address all environmental questions raised in the assessments, particular focus was given to biodiversity enhancements. This is reflective of the fact that the steelworks comprise a very large area of land with a wide range of opportunities for enhancement and linkage with other habitats in the local area, particularly the Margam Moors site of special scientific interest to the south”. Rajesh Nair, CEO of Tata Steel UK, said: “We are very pleased to have secured approval to build sustainable steelmaking facilities in Port Talbot. This £1.25 billion investment is the most significant investment made in the UK steel industry in decades. The facility will secure high-quality steel production, preserve thousands of jobs and safeguard steelmaking in Port Talbot for generations to come.” Natalie Young, Head of Legal – Property at Tata Steel UK, added: “You cannot overstate the importance of robust and credible EIAs in such complex submissions, and having the expertise of RSK was critical in the success of the application.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning permission has been granted for a new Sand Sports Centre at Hove Beach Park, following a decision by councillors at the Planning Committee meeting on Wednesday, 5 March. The proposal, submitted by Yellowave Brighton, includes the development of three sand courts for beach volleyball, beach tennis and footvolley, as well as a versatile multi-use area designed for 5-a-side beach soccer, life-saving training, and fitness activities. In addition to the courts and multi-use space, the new centre will feature a sports reception area, a small café, an accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities, and a free kids’ sandpit. A Beach House room will also be available for hire, providing an indoor space for a variety of community activities such as school beach education days, yoga sessions, First Aid training, and parent and toddler groups. The planning application also includes the change of use of existing public toilets, the demolition of a detached accessible WC, and the construction of a single-storey detached community facility with associated perimeter fencing and a newly landscaped surface around the water fountain. New public toilets will be opened nearby as part of the Hove Beach Park development at the new Outdoor Sports Hub. Councillor Julie Cattell, the lead member for major projects, spoke at the Planning Committee, highlighting the significance of the project. “This proposal is the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle that will complete Hove Beach Park – the first new park in the city for more than 100 years,” she said. The committee considered feedback from 91 objectors and 111 supporters. Councillor Cattell noted that many comments highlighted the public health benefits of the proposed sporting facilities. Katie Mintram, director of Yellowave, expressed her excitement about the project, saying: “We are thrilled to be able to bring beach sports to Hove. We will be working with a whole host of local sports clubs, schools, and colleges to offer more beach volleyball, beach tennis, and beach soccer in the city, to complement the sports on offer at our Madeira Drive site.” The new Sand Sports Centre is expected to enhance Hove Beach Park and offer local residents and visitors a range of outdoor sports and community activities. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Newcastle City Council planners have approved crucial enabling works that will unlock a multi-million pound mixed-use development in the heart of Newcastle. With One Public Estate brownfield funding already secured for the site, the unanimous decision today (March 7) now allows for the first phase of clearance and remediation within the growing Founders Place scheme. Developed by igloo, the neglected and derelict site will evolve into the Orchard Yard housing scheme. The funding is to help build thousands of new homes as part of the Government’s plans to get the country building again, create jobs and grow the economy. This multi-million-pound boost is awarded to councils to unlock disused brownfield sites. Newcastle City Council were successful in securing £2,4m in the last funding round with £1.65m allocated to bring forward housing on Founders Place. The South Street site, once home to workshops of the Stephenson Engineering Manufactory, has seen various industrial uses over the decades but fell into disrepair after the last tenant, Doves Building Merchant, left in 2004. The Machine Shop and Smith’s Shop derelict shells are now deemed dangerous and inaccessible. The enabling work will now allow for the clearing out asbestos, removal of unsafe structures – largely added in the 20th Century with little or no historical value – and put in new retaining structures. This will also unlock millions of pounds of inward investment with the site eventually seeing circa 70 homes being developed. The phased plans will reinvent the Machine Shop whilst retaining and restoring the fabric of the earliest industrial structures. This will all help bring South Street back to life by providing family homes and apartments, along with business space, a public park and courtyard. Accessed from Sussex Street, the Smith’s Shop will complement its neighbour by providing further housing and public spaces. Combined, the two developments will once again be open to the public, enhancing the wider area. Insiyah Khushnood from igloo, said: “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for the enabling work which is the first essential step to breathing new life into this derelict site of the former Stephenson Works. Without these works the site would remain abandoned but now we have the opportunity to take the first steps in this important regeneration scheme that will create a thriving residential community within an unused and forgotten part of the city.” Cabinet member for Economy, Jobs and Skills, Cllr Dan Greenhough, said: “I am delighted that planning committee have approved this. “These are incredibly important buildings from a historic perspective, but they are also in a dangerous condition due to structural decay and asbestos. This work will enable the buildings to be made safe so work can begin restoring them to their original glory and turning them into much needed housing bringing more activity back to the site. “This will be another step forward for Founders Place development site which is also attracting good quality jobs to the city.” Work is expected to start on the site this summer. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Birmingham City Council has submitted a planning application to regenerate Druids Heath, proposing the construction of approximately 3,500 new energy-efficient homes. The development will also include enhanced green spaces, improved infrastructure, and revitalised commercial and community areas. A key focus of the project is the provision of affordable housing, with the council committing to building around 1,785 affordable homes, representing 51% of the total development. Of these, 400 homes will be built directly by the council for social rent. The remaining affordable homes will be delivered through a partnership agreement with a developer and a Registered Provider, with the partnership expected to be finalised in early 2027. Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said: “I am pleased that we now have a plan in place to deliver a regeneration of Druids Heath and to provide much need new affordable homes to the city. For the past two years, we have been working with the community in Druids Heath to develop a plan to regenerate the area, one that meets the needs of the people who live and work there.” She emphasised the importance of community involvement in shaping the plans and addressing residents’ concerns, particularly regarding timescales and affordability. “Residents have been vital to ensuring this plan delivers for Druids Heath. The most common comment was that the timescales for the plan were too long, so we have changed the plans to deliver faster,” Francis stated. The regeneration project aims to create sustainable and healthier living spaces, aligning with the city’s net zero ambitions. “This regeneration will build the types of homes we need to tackle climate change, reduce residents fuel bills, and contribute to the city’s net zero ambitions,” Francis added. Recognising the potential disruption for residents, the council has pledged to provide independent advisors to homeowners and hold regular drop-in sessions for questions. Furthermore, efforts are being made to explore financial models that will enable existing residents to remain in Druids Heath. “It is really important to the council that everyone who wants to stay in Druids Heath can do so,” Francis concluded. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Developers are facing construction delays of more than 18 months and additional costs of up to £49,000 per week due to safety regulations such as the Building Safety Act (BSA), according to new data from the Purposeful Finance Commission (PFC). A report published today by the PFC highlights how the BSA has unintentionally caused significant setbacks in the construction sector. The independent body, which brings together public and private sector organisations, warns that the stringent regulatory process is creating major barriers to housing and infrastructure development. The report, Breaking the Cycle: Unlocking Infrastructure Investment, reveals that developers are waiting over 18 months for approvals from the Building Safety Regulator (BSR) before they can even begin construction. These delays stem primarily from the three-stage ‘gateway’ process that high-risk projects must navigate to secure planning consent, construction approval, and ultimately, occupancy. Since the introduction of Gateway 2 in October 2023, the number of build-to-rent (BTR) homes reaching the detailed planning application stage has dropped by 41%, falling to just 17,315 between Q4 2023 and Q4 2024. The PFC argues that these regulatory delays are making many schemes financially unviable, with one developer reportedly losing up to £49,000 per week due to prolonged waiting times at Gateway 2. In December alone, the BSR received 1,502 planning applications for high-risk buildings, yet nearly half remain undecided. Of those reviewed, more than 70% have been either rejected or deemed invalid. Meanwhile, construction starts on over 800 high-rise residential projects have been delayed, with Gateway 2 approvals now taking an average of 22 weeks—almost double the original 12-week target. Tracy Blackwell, chief executive of the Pension Insurance Corporation and chair of the PFC, acknowledged the importance of regulatory oversight but criticised the lack of resources that is slowing progress. She said: “Regulators play a critical role, particularly in ensuring resident safety, but there is no excuse for them to be under-resourced and effectively stalling vital infrastructure and housing projects. The regulatory burden is strangling growth, and I’m delighted the PFC is focused on how regulation can better align with the government’s growth mission and drive investment into the economy.” The report also found that nearly half (49%) of local authorities in England have reduced spending on planning, with overall planning department budgets increasing by just 3.85% per capita between 2018 and 2022. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Plans for a cutting-edge new Extra Care scheme in South Shields have been submitted for approval. The much-needed specialist accommodation, developed and managed by housing association Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, would consist of 124 one and two-bed apartments, designed to help people with differing levels of care and support needs to live well and independently. The scheme, located on the corner of Galsworthy Road and Benton Road, on the site of the former Chuter Ede school and community association, has been designed to help address the lack of specialist, affordable accommodation options in the borough. 25 of the apartments are specifically designed for people living with dementia. Zoey Hawthorne, Assistant Director of Development Delivery at Karbon Homes, said: “We’re pleased to be submitting this exciting planning proposal for our second Extra Care scheme in South Tyneside, bringing much-needed supported housing to the borough which will enable local people to remain living independently for longer. “We’re looking forward to working with South Tyneside Council to help us deliver the vision for scheme, to create a modern and welcoming place that helps empower people with additional care and support needs to live life to the full. and brings the local community together.” The scheme would be the second Extra Care facility developed by Karbon Homes in partnership with South Tyneside Council, the first being a 96-apartment scheme in Hebburn town centre, which started on site at the end of last year. The partnership supports the Council’s ambitions to build strong communities and help people in South Tyneside to stay well and healthy throughout their lives. Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “This development is a really exciting concept which would provide much-needed specialist accommodation for adults with care and support needs, as well as integrating modern facilities for local people to use. “Our residents have been clear that they would rather live as independently as possible than go into residential care, and this extra care facility would enable them to do just that, living right in the heart of their communities with the support they need.” Karbon has worked with Tyne and Wear based JDDK Architects on the design, which delivers a spacious, socially focused scheme, with high environmental and energy efficiency standards. The apartments would sit across four-storeys, laid out around a central communal courtyard. Ground floor apartments have access to private patio areas, with upper storey apartments benefitting from balconies. The wider scheme would include a variety of landscaped areas and small quiet gardens. The proposal is for the heating and hot water to be powered by air source heat pumps, with additional energy generated through roof mounted solar PV panels. The design has also been guided by the needs of the community. If approved, the scheme will be the first of Karbon’s Extra Care schemes to have an integrated Community Hub, alongside a bistro café and multi-use spaces for activities open to the general public and community groups, helping to facilitate community cohesion. Its delivery would be part-funded by Homes England, through Karbon’s Strategic Partnership with the Government’s housing delivery agency. This strategic partnership is supporting Karbon to deliver 2,200 new affordable homes across the North East and Yorkshire over the next few years, 10% of which will be new homes for people requiring additional support needs. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Persimmon Homes Wessex has submitted an outline planning application for the construction of up to 624 new homes in the Grove and Wantage area, further expanding its Wellington Gate development. The proposed development, located to the north-west of Grove, will be adjacent to the existing Wellington Gate site. In addition to new homes, the plans include infrastructure for community amenities, such as allotments, youth play areas, public open space, and the expansion of Grove Cemetery. The development also aims to enhance local education by expanding primary school facilities and introducing equipped play areas, creating a more family-friendly environment. The application, initially submitted in 2020, has been revised after extensive discussions with local authorities to better align with community priorities and needs. A key part of the proposal is the inclusion of 35% affordable and social housing, which will be transferred to a housing association partner. This initiative is designed to address the housing shortage in the Vale of White Horse District, where there is currently a waiting list of around 2,000 families. Further financial contributions from the developer to support local services will be determined during the application process. If approved, more detailed applications will follow. The five-star builder is also currently selling two, three, and four-bedroom homes at its existing Wellington Gate site, with prices starting from £284,995. Persimmon recently held a community consultation to gather input on the local hub planned for the new development. Seb Spiller, deputy managing director of Persimmon Homes Wessex, commented on the submission: “Persimmon is very proud of the progress we have made at Wellington Gate and are delighted that our presence is bringing infrastructure to the community and opening up the dream of home ownership to so many local people. “So, we are delighted to have submitted this outline application to bring hundreds of more high-quality, low-cost homes to Wantage and Grove, especially after working closely with the Vale of White Horse District Council and Grove Parish Council to make amendments to the plan.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
By Robert Oates, CEO of leading UK ecology consultancy, Arbtech Having spent the last few weeks providing responses to the Government’s Planning Reform working paper ‘Development and Nature Recovery’ both in writing and in person at the House of Lords, one opportunity we keep pressing is the need for greater knowledge sharing and the exploitation of technology to drive decision quality. Any new measures to assist the process of simplifying the ecology workstream for developers to speed up housing delivery will depend heavily on the readiness of accurate data, and AI certainly has a part to play. Having worked with tens of thousands of developers around the UK for the past 20 years, we know that it’s not necessarily the requirement for ecological assessments that causes frustration, but rather the delays and uncertainty that often accompanies the processing of assessments once they have been submitted. In order for the right decisions to be made there has to be detailed baseline data across planning authorities so that the impacts of a particular development can be accurately assessed. Presently, Ministers are claiming that bats and newts are “blockers” to development, but there is a lack of clarity on where that information is coming from. In the last five years there have been almost 2,000,000 planning applications made. That is a colossal amount of data, all in the public domain, that is completely untapped. This data could be used to help drive up the quality of decision making and speed up policy reform. By having a model with all the data linked to particular planning applications, a ‘super baseline’ could be created to understand the matrix of species and habitats within each LPA, using the best available evidence. At Arbtech, we have existing proprietary data (taken from 12,000 planning applications in 2024 alone) that could be made available to speed up the creation of the new super-baseline understanding for decision makers; an essential pre-requisite for any change, let alone radical reforms. This is where AI will be a game changer. For example, it could be mandated that all ecology reports contain a strictly formatted summary appendix that a machine learning tool could easily exploit the constant stream of fresh data as it is generated by the sector. This would greatly assist data collection. In fact, at Arbtech we are developing an AI application to translate all our data into actional insights for the public and private sectors in the hope that this will speed up the planning process and avoid preventable outcomes such as the irreversible decline of habitats and species. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A four-week planning inquiry has commenced over a controversial proposal to transform Green Belt land south of Marlow—part of the Little Marlow Lakes Country Park—into a £750 million film studio complex. The ambitious development includes 18 sound stages, workshops, office spaces, and a vast backlot. Buckinghamshire Council previously refused planning permission, citing several key concerns. The rejection was based on the project’s failure to prove the “very special circumstances” required to justify development on protected Green Belt land. Additional objections included the loss of part of the Country Park, potential harm to the Thames Valley landscape and the adjoining Chilterns National Landscape, as well as negative impacts on local residents’ amenities. Furthermore, the Council raised concerns over the project’s impact on the local road network and its failure to promote sustainable transport solutions effectively. The case has now been taken up by the Secretary of State for a final decision. Representing Buckinghamshire Council, the local planning authority, are Simon Bird KC and Esther Drabkin-Reiter, instructed by Laura Lee Briggs of the Council’s Legal Services. Meanwhile, Claire Nevin, instructed by Sophie Rae of PMV Planning, is acting on behalf of two key opposition groups—Little Marlow Parish Council and Save Marlow’s Green Belt. The inquiry’s outcome will be pivotal, shaping the future of both Marlow’s natural landscape and the UK’s expanding film industry. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
As the government announces its plans for the next generation of news towns, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) emphasises the critical role of a well-resourced planning system in delivering this vision. Research from the RTPI shows that public spending on planning dropped 16% from 2009 to 2022. Reforming planning without investing in its capacity risks missing out on over £70 billion in potential value. Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the RTPI, said: “Historically, new towns have proven that a well-resourced planning system can drive housing delivery, and offer us a model for solving the housing crisis today while delivering on the Government’s growth agenda. “But with the Planning and Infrastructure Bill on the horizon, we’re urging essential reforms to ensure the planning system can meet the government’s housing targets and support economic growth. To do this, planning departments need long-term effective solutions to resourcing issues and an enhanced corporate presence in local authorities through a statutory role for Chief Planning Officers, ensuring they have a seat at the top table. “The next generation of new towns needs to be flexible, and able to adapt and evolve as communities grow. The RTPI is commissioning extensive international case study-based research on how new towns can be designed with this in mind.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals