The National Planning Policy Framework
Department for Communities and Local Government introduce new National Planning Policy Framework to simplify the planning system and replace existing Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) and Planning Policy Statements (PPS).
2012 - Light at the end of the tunnel ... ?
The New Year has got off to a good start with far more interest and enquiries from prospective purchasers.
During 2011 farmland prices remained very buoyant. There is continuing demand from commercial farmers keen to expand in many areas, strengthened further by the equestrian purchaser and investors who continue to see land as a safe investment.
The Rural Payments Agency (RPA) started making the 2011 payments to claimants on 01 December 2011. On 21 December 2011 the Agriculture Minister Jim Paice announced that the RPA had paid 87 per cent of farmers, representing 81 per cent of the estimated value of total payments for 2011.
Local Development Framework update
Local Planning Authorities across the region have been preparing a new version of their Development Plans, which is known as a Local Development Framework (LDF). The LDF will consist of several documents including a Core Strategy that sets out the overall spatial approach to development within a district and an Allocations Development Plan Document that will indicate housing sites, employment sites and the extent of the Green Belt. The LDF is also likely to consist of Area Action Plans that outline the detailed development of a specific area and Supplementary Planning Guidance.
Draft proposals on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
The EU Commission released draft proposals on the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) on 12 October 2011. These proposals have already been subject to consultation in Europe but may change before they are turned into legislation.
National Planning Policy Framework update
The government published a draft version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in July 2011 with the intention of reducing over 1000 pages of existing planning policy contained within Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) and Planning Policy Statements (PPS) into one concise document.