Localism, CIL, Success in Corby
The end of November, the sun is still shining and we have hardly had a frost in the south yet!
Other things are more predictable, the fuss about NPPF rumbles on with mounting pressure on Ministers to make changes. Rumours are that the idea of allowing offices to change to residential flats might now just be a sentence of advice in NPPF rather than an actual ruling all a bit of a pucillanimous climb down - there again it was a pretty daft idea.
Everyone seems to continue to forget that the "Presumption in favour" of develeopment (not even "sustainable development" in those days) was one of the founding principles of the whole planning system - we even started off with a system for compensation if you had a refusal (that did not last long, neither did the attempt to recover the "betterment" value when permission was granted).
We are promised the finished article of the NPPF by April 2012 - someone is going to be disappointed!
Meanwhile, we have a shiny new Localism Bill that everyone needs to get their head around. There is an awful lot of it - 241 sections and 25 Schedules one of which has 34 parts! I am sure that every Parish Council and interested individual in the country will be rushing out for a copy. We are dutifully set to get up to speed, each taking responsibility for different relevant parts.
CIL, Community Infrastructure Levy, is elaborated upon as more and more Councils are producing their schedules of charges. Our local Council here, Wycombe, have produced a proposal with their customary efficiency. Wycombe propose charges of £125 or £150 per sqm for residential proposals which they estimate could increase development costs by less than 5% or £9 -14,000, they say "this is not at the ceiling of viability". Seems a lot to add on to me when developers and the poor so and so's who are trying to buy a new house are struggling enough as it is.
The CIL arguments are a bit like the "percent for Art" that Councils seek to impose - it does not sound much to someone who does not have to find the money. If you are sitting in a project meeting worrying about the cost of the door handles an extra 1% or 5% is quite a lot more to find! I guess many people struggling to find a deposit or persuade a bank manager for loan might take a similar view. Maybe it will not be quite so damaging if other s106 costs reduce, but nothing ever seems to reduce in cost when it comes to it.
Despite minor panic whilst stuck in traffic on the way to Committee in Corby I was delighted with the enthusiastic welcome that the Committee gave to our application for a new pub. Such enthusiam for development could even make me less cynical if only I came across it more often!
Talking of minor panics, I am much refreshed after a few days walking and clambering in Snowdonia where the weather was very kind indeed. However, it takes a bit more than just sunshine to help me get over some of the awkward bits on Tryfan's north ridge. Calming words, a few deep breaths and finding a different way did the trick though. The reward - later in the day some of the best views I have ever had in North Wales with sun, cloud and mountains all arranged very photogenically.
Mark K and I are maintaining our policy of "no comment" in response to all of the eager questioning about the activity for our staff Christmas event. Lots of attempts to break through our wall of silence - none successful so far! It will all have been revealed by the time of my next Blog - but I do not think it will disappoint - there is something for everyone in Extreme Ironing
