The Infrastructure Planning Commission & National Policy Statements November 17, 2009

Listen Up!

The 2008 Planning Act introduced a new planning system for applications to build “nationally significant infrastructure” facilities in England and Wales.

National Policy Statements (NPSs) are the foundation of this new planning system, and they set out the Government’s policy on “nationally significant infrastructure”.  Twelve National Policy Statements are being prepared by the relevant Government departments, based on existing government policy.  Before being finalised, they will each be subject to public consultation and scrutiny by parliament:

• renewable energy – on and off shore
• fossil fuel power stations
• gas & oil supply and storage
• electricity networks – the grid
• nuclear power stations

These NPSs have been produced by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and are out for consultation from now until 22nd February 2010.

• ports
• national networks – rail and road
• airports

These NPSs are the work of the Department for Transport (DfT).  Ports is out for consultation from now until 15th February 2010; National Networks opens in spring 2010 and Aviation late next year.

• waste water
• hazardous waste
• water supply

These are being produced by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and will be out for consultation in spring, summer and autumn of next year respectively.

Under the new planning system the decision making for power for planning applications has been taken away from Government and placed in with the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC).  However, a quick look at there web-site revealed that they are part of Central Office of Information (COI) the Government’s centre of excellence for marketing and communications!  So how independent the IPC is I can’t say…

Until a NPS is formally designated by the Secretary of State, following public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny, the IPC (although up and running) does not have the power to decide applications just yet.

So why get involved?

It is important to make your views known because once finalised the NPSs will provide the framework for future decisions by the IPC on individual applications.  Issues relating to the need for specific types of infrastructure will not be debated again.

Except for NPSs on nuclear power stations and airports, specific locations for infrastructure are not identified (meaning they could go anywhere whether you like it or not) although criteria may guide developers to appropriate types of area.

Planning Aid North West have provided me with some guidance on the NPSs out for consultation now, they can be found on the SNAG documents page: www.snag.org.uk/documents.  I’ll touch back on this in the new year once the Core Strategy and Waste Plan consultations are out of the way.

Best Wishes, Tim.

Greater Manchester Waste Plan November 17, 2009

Hi Everyone,

PREFERRED OPTION CONSULTATION

Following earlier stages of consultation on the Issues and Options for waste facilities and guiding policies we are now at the Preferred Option stage.  This stage brings all comments and information received at the previous stages of consultation, together with evidence developed as part of overall plan preparation, to develop the Preferred Option policy direction including setting out the waste capacity gap, site area allocations and development management policies.

Municipal waste only accounts for part of the total waste produced in Greater Manchester. Both Greater Manchester and Wigan Waste Disposal Authorities have developed Municipal Waste Management Strategies, to provide solutions for managing Municipal waste.  However, much larger quantities of other wastes such as commercial and industrial and construction and demolition still need to be managed and planned for.  In Greater Manchester this is being done through the development of the Joint Waste Development Plan Document (the Waste Plan).

The Preferred Option Report focuses on the following areas:

• Aim and Objectives;
• Future Waste Management Requirements;
• Sites and Areas Allocations;
• Site/Area Profiles;
• Additional Sites
• Development Management; and
• Monitoring and Implementation

The Preferred Option Report is being issued for consultation with relevant statutory stakeholders and other interested organisations and individuals.  There will be an 8 week consultation period from 13th November 2009 to Friday 8th January 2010.  It is important that people get involved now to comment on the Preferred Option approach described within the report. A Background Information document has also been prepared to support the Preferred Option Report, which sets out the detailed information behind the policy directions and data included within the main report

Although not a requirement at this stage of the plan process the Preferred Option Report is accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) which is an independent process of weighing and assessing the policies and proposals in the Report for their social, environmental and economic impacts. A copy of the SA is available to view alongside the Preferred Option Report at public locations across Greater Manchester.

You can get involved via the website http://consult.gmwastedpd.co.uk/portal/wmpt/, using a web based form.  You will need to complete a short registration process and once submitted, your response will be automatically added to our database.

If you would rather fill out the paper form, please let me know and I’ll send you a form by post or by e-mail.  Or you can just e-mail or post a free-style written response to:

Postal Address: Planning Team, GMGU, 10th Floor, Emerson House, Albert Street, Eccles, M30

E-mail: planningteam@gmwastedpd.co.uk

Website: www.gmwastedpd.co.uk

Tel: 0161 779 6182

In addition to the preparation of a Joint Waste Plan, the ten Greater Manchester Authorities have agreed to produce another Joint Plan to cover the topic of minerals and associated issues within the sub region.  Your details will be automatically added to the database for this new Joint Minerals Plan and you will be contacted in due course regarding the first stage of consultation. If you wish to remove your details from this database please contact a member of the planning team as above.

SNP Forum / Core Strategy 8th December November 9, 2009

Hello All,

The SNP Forum scheduled for 8th December is no more : (

Instead Councillor Richard Cowell, Executive Member for Environment, on behalf of Manchester City Council, invites you to attend the Core Strategy Seminar  : ) !!!

So what is the difference?  Unlike a normal SNP Forum there will be some issues covered such as the Airport and Transport and Economy which aren’t aren’t normally discussed.

With the Core Strategy nearing its final stages Planning Strategy are keen to get your views on the Proposed Options document which can be found on the documents page of this website.  For the first time in this process, the Proposed Options proposed policy ideas in line with submissions from the last round of consultation, Refining Options.

The Event will be run in two sessions, one afternoon and one evening – see booking form below for details.

You get to choice which session to go to and which workshops you’d like to attend out of the following:

Housing, District Centres, Environment, Airport, Transport, Economy and General.

If you would like to attend please fill out the attached form:

Pre-Registration Form

It will be assumed that attendees have already read the document or at the very least chapters relevant to the workshops selected to attend.  SNAG members will be issued with a briefing paper which will summarize the content and the emerging policy.

Core Strategy Consultation October 30, 2009

OK we’re almost there now

Welcome to the Proposed Options Stage the Core Strategy for Manchester.  Consultation opens on Monday the 9th of November until 4th January 2009.

I can tell you that Option B was the most popular option following the refined options stage earlier this year (72% of us preferred B), which should please most of you no end.

As ever I’ll be sending a briefing paper to SNAG members ASAP to give you the low down on how the Proposed Option is shaping up.  Certainly none of the headline Spatial Policies have change, but I am yet to see if there is any devil in the detail; I should think not.

So what’s in the option which will lead to the flourishing of Manchester into a green and pleasant, sustainable 21st century haven of well-being and knowledge based industrial excellence?   I’ve only had a quick flick through so these are but my first impressions:

The usual slugs in the pottage include the preference of economic growth over economic development, airport growth (although there are mentions of high speed rail links) over greenbelt protection and a focus on development of the city centre as opposed to effectual sites for employment in the burbs.

I am picking up heightened levels of climate change related activity compared with the previous incarnation of this strategy but the dedicated climate change info measures just 1 small paragraph here and another one there on my climate change policyometer.  The waste management enthusiasts amongst you may find this rather disappointing.

So what’s coming up roses?  If I take number of pages as a proxy to the level of good policy, housing and design are smelling the sweetest.  Economic growth is of course the compost feeding everything in our great Mancunian City.

Watch this space.

Best Wishes, Tim.

Corridor Manchester August 19, 2009

Investigations have been made into the utilities and services infrastructure of one of the Manchester’s most bustling areas.  The oxford Road Corridor is a major destination for work, education and health as well as for leisure act ivies and serving as a major transport artery to the south of the city.

Corridor Manchester is the new name for Manchester City South the partnership – a group of major institutions based in the corridor itself – which are working together to improve the area through their own programmes of development – but in a combined way.

This latest study investigates the capacity of the Oxford Road Corridor’s electricity and gas distribution network, sewerage and waste water systems and digital infrastructure (i.e. the stuff which enables us to make a phone call or use the internet and watch cable.)  It also predicts the demand that planned and future developments along the corridor such as new buildings for example will have on these infrastructures and what if any extra capacity must be installed to meet this demand.

The Executive Summary of this report is available here and my notes which are pretty similar but worded a little less “executively” are here.

Notes from SNP Board Meeting July 22, 2009

Board held Thursday 17th July (postponed from 17th June)

SNP Board Papers Review

16^th July 2009 (postponed from 17^th June)

Item 1 – Welcome and Apologies

Richard Sharland has excepted his appointment onto the SNP Board in his capacity as Head of Environment Strategy.

Item 2 – Minutes of the last Meeting

No matters arising from previous minutes.

Item 3 – SNP Forum Report

Report Noted and Cllr Andrews commented that it was well attended and very useful.

Item 4 – Consultation and Delivery of the Housing Strategy

Housing have commissioned a number of thematic focus groups to feed into the delivery of this strategy from the thematic partnerships, including children’s, adults’, crime & disorder. Northwards Housing in their capacity as the city’s ALMO¹ have been commissioned to produce a report on the “Golden thread” of Housing Policy – from National to Local, with the intent to produce a report and recommendations this September.

I explained that during consultation on the Core Strategy, SNAG members had raised the issue of utilizing city centre apartments for use by older people due to the many benefits they provide for older people and asked if this had been examined by Housing in their own research. Gail Heath² explained that it had been raised, but that older people found it more important to live in areas with a sense of community. If a strong older people’s community could be established in the centre then city apartments would be ideal. Gail added that further work was to be carried-out around the inter-relation between older people in large homes and fuel poverty. This work would be in tandem with work being progressed by VOP on fuel poverty. Further consultation will target key business areas using partners as the conduit for this process.

Overview and Scrutiny (Housing Sub-group) remain committed to the 60% target in owner-occupier by 2015 (this may be altered to 60% or 50,000 new owners) due to the recession.

SNAG have been asked to make comment on the Housing Strategy and comments must be submitted by the end of August. I shall issue a questionnaire which will enable you to pass comment fairly easily and quickly.

Item 5 – Neighbourhood Focus Strategy

Vicky Rosin stated that more work is being carried out on the outcomes of the Neighbourhood Focus Strategy before work can begin on its implementation. Vicky Rosin is to brief the CEOs of many of the Council’s partners such as the RSLs³ PCT⁴ and members of thematic partnership boards with the aim to report to the Executive in September. This is one of the most important customers strategies in the Council’s framework.

SNAG to be issued with a briefing paper ASAP.

Item 6 – LAA Quarter 4 Performance Report

Vicky noted that in future there may be a case for performance reporting by thematic partnerships to be conducted at different scales depending on the level of the indicator i.e. 1, 2, 3 or 4.

Item 7 – SNP Action Plan (draft).

The draft action plan highlights a number of quick fire actions which the SNP can deliver straight-away. It also highlights some larger actions which need special devotion. It will be important to the efficiency of the process for SNP partners such as the PCT to illustrate areas of best practice e.g. world class commissioning, so that SNP can replicate the processes.

1Arms Length Management Organisation

2Standing in for Paul Beardmore – Head of Housing

3Registered Social Landlords

4Primary Care Trust

Environment Commission July 16, 2009

Hello,

I met Sarah Davies – Head of Strategy and Programmes for the AGMA Environment Commission (formerly of Green City Team at MCC) at a meeting last week.  Since then I’ve had a chat with her about the structure and the make-up of the Environment Commission and have re-produced a chart which explains the structure of the commission.  This can be found in the documents page of this site.

The new Environment Commissioners will co-ordinate with a range of organisations to tackle climate change, energy, water, green infrastructure, transport, waste and other issues.

The selection of Councillors to the Commission followed the regular local democratic processes.  Selection of Appointments and Advisers followed a vigorous and independent process from over 400 nominations which were submitted.

The Commissioners are as follows:

Chair: Councillor Dave Goddard (Stockport)

Vice Chair: Lynda Shillaw – Managing Director (Property) Co-operative Group.

Councillors:

Mark Alcock (Oldham)

Richard Cowell (Manchester)

Catherine Piddington (Tameside)

James Wibberley (Trafford)

David Molyneux (Wigan)

Private and Third Sector Appointments:

Andy Cliffe – Strategy Director, MAG

Keith Davidson – Environment Partner, Pannone

Roger Milburn – Director, Arup

Anne Selby – CEO, Wildlife Trust

Strategic Advisers:

Tony Dean – North West Regional Director, Environment Agency

David Higham – Regional Director, Government Office North West

Angie Robinson – Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce

Ian McAulay – Managing Director of  Capital Programmes, United Utilities plc

Councillor Neil Swannick – Chair, Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority

David Hytch – Information Systems Director, Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive.

Two more roles to be appointed (likely a third too.)  The Commission also has a strategy team of officers led by the Chief Executive of Oldham Council Charlie Parker.

Draft Climate Change Action Plan Structure June 22, 2009

Hello Everyone,

The Green City Team have produced  a draft version of the structure of the Climate Change Action Plan.  When finalised this structure will dictate how the Action Plan will be constructed, who will be involved and what themes will be concentrated on.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please let me know by Thursday morning.  The agenda for this meeting is here.  Again comments by Thursday morning please.

Best Wishes, Tim.

ESP Projects Update June 9, 2009

Introduction

In the Call to Action there was a public declaration to spend 3 months at the start of 2009 undertaking project planning. At ESPB on 24th April 2009, project updates were requested from project leads to enable there to be a review of progress of individual projects and Environmental Strategy Programme (ESP) as a whole.

Project management findings

• Wide mix of projects, from those well-developed and being delivered, to those not yet fully scoped.

• Timescales were not generally defined in projects.

• No detail provided on resource requirements, either already in place or yet to be identified. Both staff and finance (capital and revenue).

• Use of online Project Management System would assist with management of individual projects and programme as a whole. Recommend that PMS is mandatory for all MCC projects. Recommended for non-MCC projects. Need to consider training implications.

• Need to work towards each project having a signed-off Project Initiation Document.

• Once PID’s signed off then need Green City will need a monthly highlight report to track progress. (This could be accessed through PMS).

ESP-specific

• Energy infrastructure is emerging as a recurring theme within several ESP projects. Need a strategic, citywide approach to this topic. I.e. ‘Energy Infrastructure’ project within ESP. Will therefore need to consider resource implications and appropriate approach in terms of MCC and AGMA role.

• Behavioural change is emerging as a recurring theme within several ESP projects. Needs a strategic approach. I.e. ‘Awareness Raising and Engagement; project within ESP. Will therefore need to consider resource implications.

• Digital infrastructure activity has been reviewed as part of ESP review. Important to feed into ESP as may be a theme relevant to a number of ESP projects.

• Need to produce a funding strategy to support the delivery of ESP. £1m Carbon Reduction Fund will be part of this wider strategy but need to make sure the strategy maximises return on investment from the £1m and levers in match from other sources.

• Linkages between projects: As per those identified in original project summaries submitted in February. Energy Infrastructure and Awareness Raising and Engagement strong recurring themes. Need to identify linkages to any other non-ESP projects.

• Need to consider the carbon savings from each project, including target setting.

• Need to put in place a plan for the delivery of the Climate Change Action Plan, showing how and where individual projects will feed in.

Next Steps

• Project summaries from all project leads to Green City by Friday 22nd May 2009.
• ESP review final report from Green City to ESPB 8th June 2009.
• Project-specific feedback provided direct from Green City to project leads after 8th June.

Latest SNP Board Papers June 9, 2009

Hello All,

OK it’s that time of the month (well that time of every second month) again.  There are quite a lot of papers this time round so maybe select the ones that are of most interest to you and comment on those rather than the whole lot perhaps?  I think the most interesting are those in bold.

Agenda, Previous Minutes, SNP Forum Report, Housing Strategy Report, LAA Q4 Report, SNP Action Plan, Working Neighbourhoods Fund Report, SNP Risk Report and SNP Work Programme.

These documents will be available on line until the next Board Papers are published in approx. 2 months – at which point they’ll be available via e-mail only.  Just ask…

Best Wishes, Tim.