Community Regeneration Partnership

Planning for Non Planners Courses 2012

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:31:38 +0000

The new Planning for Non Planners courses commenced in autumn 2011. These courses are of vital importance to all non-planners whose work, locality or community will be affected by the wide ranging changes to the planning system introduced by the government. At this crucial time CRP were asked to provide these courses on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Housing. This builds on the courses previously organised by CRP.

Huge changes are taking place as part of the government’s Localism agenda. The new and emerging planning system will allow far more discretion over planning decisions as professionals and residents are challenged to work together in ways that benefit their communities and the towns and cities in which they are situated.

For further information click on ‘Future Events’ on the right of this page, or contact Angus Kennedy at angusk@crp-ltd.co.uk or the Chartered Institute of Housing at www.cih.org/training/planning-for-non-planners

Development and Construction Conference 12 October 2011

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:29:54 +0000

Angus Kennedy spoke at this conference in London in October 2011. The conference was organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing.

National Housing Federation Masterclass on Governance

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:27:32 +0000

Angus Kennedy presented a Governance Masterclass at the NHF eastern regional conference, which took place at Stansted in September 2011.

Local Improvement Advisers Consortium

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:25:21 +0000

Angus Kennedy and Donald McIntosh have joined a consortium of former Local Improvement Advisers to offer a range of services and advice to a wide variety of organisations and agencies. Local Improvement Advisers (previously Neighbourhood Renewal Advisors) provided flexible support, advice and assistance to organisations, particularly in situations where difficulties had arisen. The Advisors were experienced professionals who used their knowledge of solutions and approaches that had worked elsewhere. The new Consortium will continue this work, aiming to help organisations to be self-sufficient, promoting best practice and encouraging innovation.

If you think your organisation would benefit from the expertise of the Consortium, contact Angus Kennedy at angusk@crp-ltd.co.uk for further information.

RTPI’s Response to High Speed 2 Consultation

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:23:08 +0000

As an Independent Expert Adviser Angus Kennedy contributed to the Royal Town Planning Institute’s response to the Government’s consultation on the proposed new High Speed Rail Link HS2.

New Planning for Non Planners programme launched

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:21:42 +0000

The Journal ‘Housing’ in its July 2011 edition announced the launch of the new Planning for Non Planners programme, which will be developed and presented by CRP on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Housing. The first course will be offered this autumn.

The article described the course: ‘It will enable professionals to understand the new emerging planning system which will have such an important bearing on future housing developments throughout the country.

‘Angus Kennedy, Programme Director, stated: ‘I am pleased to have been given the opportunity to update the programme that was originally supported by the HCA. This intensive two day programme will bring delegates right up to date with the planning system and enable them to understand how these changes will affect their ability to deliver their priorities at local level. It will also provide the opportunity to visit significant projects with the key deliverers and discuss the challenges and lessons from them.’�
For more information go to www.cih.org/training/planning-for-non-planners/ .

Launch of Major Housing Improvement Programme in Hastings

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:19:52 +0000

In July 2011 Hastings Borough Council announced its major new improvement programme. The programme arose directly out of work carried out by CRP for Hastings Borough Council and Local Space Housing Association.
The Council’s announcement:�
‘Council Takes Further Step To Improve Housing Conditions
‘Hastings Borough Council last night moved to improve housing conditions in some of the most deprived parts of the town, as it voted unanimously to introduce an additional licensing scheme for houses in multiple occupation.
‘Council leader Jeremy Birch explained :- “We are the most deprived town in the southeast, and the second most deprived seaside resort in the whole country.
‘”The town has a very proportion of bedsit/flats, or houses in multiple occupation. In fact our proportion of HMOs, as they are called, is four times the national average, and around 85 per cent of these are concentrated in the four town centre wards.
‘”Living conditions in HMOs are often well below standard, so we are introducing an additional licensing scheme to help tackle these problems and provide greater protection for tenants. We have consulted widely on this proposal, and we have had overwhelming support from tenants, the wider community and from a majority of landlords.
‘”We see this as an important element in our housing action plan, in our efforts to improve the quality of housing in Hastings. We have already introduced something called ‘Article 4 direction’ which means that smaller HMOs need planning permission. We are starting to compulsorily purchase houses that have been empty for a long time - indeed, we also doubled the number of empty properties we want to target at last night’s Cabinet meeting. We are also working with a partner, Local Space, who are looking to invest £2m in social housing in Hastings. And we will shortly be announcing details of a scheme which will help people get onto the housing ladder by acting as guarantor for part of their home loan.
‘”We are absolutely committed to improving housing conditions in Hastings, the decision by our Cabinet last night will help turn this ambition into reality.’

Regeneration Conference Hastings

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:17:41 +0000

Jeremy Birch the Leader of Hastings Borough Council and Bob Young, Chief Executive of Local Space Housing Association, signed a Memorandum of Understanding between their two organisations at a Regeneration Conference held at the Stade on 20th July. The Conference, which outlined the progress made on Hastings regeneration programmes over the last few years, the challenges ahead and introduced the partnership between the Council and Local Space aimed at tackling the issues in the St. Leonards area.

Assessment of Prospective Chartered Environmental Health Officers

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:15:15 +0000

John Downie has been commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) to set the housing and regeneration paper for the final assessment of competency and registration for prospective Chartered Environmental Health Officers. The exam will be taken in early 2012 and John will attend interviews with the candidates.

Hastings Borough Council and Local Space Housing Association

admin — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 20:08:10 +0000

In May 2011, building on their recent very successful work, CRP were offered a further contract by Hastings Borough Council and Local Space Housing Association. CRP’s first report for Hastings had such an impact that a major regeneration initiative for the area was very quickly approved by Hastings Borough Council. Work is going ahead in the area immediately. CRP will be key players in the new programme, fulfilling a variety of roles and helping to guide the programme through to successful completion. The ground-breaking work involves major improvements to private sector housing, particularly houses in multiple occupation, in an important section of the St. Leonard’s area.