South East Forum For Sustainability

A)      NPPF

1. Environment Select Committee criticises NPPF as contradictory and confusing: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15704312

B)      Energy

1. Friends of the Earth pursue legal action over the Government’s policy on cuts to the Feed in Tariff: http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/news/friends_of_the_earth_to_follow_through_with_legal_challenge_5478/
2. Wind Farm at Bozeat near Milton Keynes wins on appeal: http://lavendonconnection.com/Temp_Notices/Nun_Wood_Decision_Letter.pdf

C)      Housing

1. New CPRE shows there is brown field land for housing: http://www.cpre.org.uk/media-centre/latest-news-releases/item/2606-new-report-england-needs-to-keep-recycling-land-now-more-than-ever

D)      Localism

1. Bill to become law: http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9630000/9630950.stm And http://www.publicsectorexecutive.com/dataview/News/News_Article.aspx?KeyValue=2552
2. Receives Royal Assent: http://www.rtpi.org.uk/item/4914/pg_dtl_art_news/pg_hdr_art/pg_ftr_art
3. Plain English Guide: http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/localismplainenglishupdate
4. Hailed as a historic shift of giving power back to the people http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/general/news/stories/2011/nov11/171111/171111_1

E)      Sustainable Development

1. Government responds to Environment Select Committee on their request for a clear definition of Sustainable Development: http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/general/news/stories/2011/nov11/171111/171111_2

F)      Transport

1. Improvements to Rail links from Oxford to Marylebone halted by bats: http://www.planningresource.co.uk/bulletin/planningdaily/article/1104575/inspector-oxford-rail-link-plans-pose-risk-bats/  & http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/headlines/9368010.Wildlife_could_halt___130m_Oxford_train_link/?action=complain&cid=9830759

G)      Marine Conservation Zones

1. Plans delayed: http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2125164/delayed-marine-conservation-zones-curtail-green-investment

H)      Housing

1. Federation of Master Builders lobbies Government over the need to reintroduce centralised housing targets: http://andrewlainton.wordpress.com/2011/11/15/federation-of-master-builders-government-may-have-to-reintroduce-housing-targets-nppf/

I)      South Downs

1. Planning approval given for hospital site redevelopment near Midhurst but with tough controls to protect wildlife and natural beauty of the area: http://www.southdowns.gov.uk/about-us/news/planning-committee-king-edward-vii-application