Rear Extensions: A Quick Guide to the 2013 Permitted Development Rights
There has been much speculation about the Governments recent changes to permitted development rights for householders. Aimed at removing red tape and kick starting the building industry in difficult economic times, it is questionable whether allowing larger rear extensions will actually have any impact on the building industry. So whilst planning permission may not be...
Neighbourhood Planning Experience
Neighborhood Planning is probably the most fundamental change that the planning system has seen since 1947. ECA have a diverse range of experience and skills which is proving ideal in this new area of work. We have a history of partnership working and community engagement in complex regeneration areas, complemented by our experience in fund...
Green Belt Stats
When the Government published the final version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in 2012, campaigners were relieved to see green belt policy relatively intact despite draft versions of the guidance threatening to dilute this historic land use policy. The reality is somewhat different, as we have seen some very unpredictable appeal decisions relating...
Planning Appeal News: housing land supply
An inspector has allowed an appeal for 130 houses on a greenfield site in Devon, on the grounds that there was a housing supply shortfall in the district as a whole and that the scheme would not prejudice the review of the local plan. What is of interest in this case is that the appellants...
Merry Christmas
To all: locally in the Dorset and particularly Poole area, to our clients and colleagues in London, Dubai and Qatar. We wish you a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 2012 has been a challenging year for ECA with a frantic frenzy of activity right up until the last. We look forward to working with you all in 2013. ECA...
RIBA talk at the Arts University College Bournemouth
We are delighted to have helped give a short talk to the architectural students at the Arts University College Bournemouth. Doug Withington (RIBA project Coordinator) talked about all aspects of what the RIBA can do for students nationally and what it does for the whole profession. We (Adam Covell from ECA and Sarah Mitchell from Bright Space Architects) were...
Poole Beaches Masterplan
We are extremely keen to see proposals for the future of the beaches at Poole. Currently Poole Borough Council are assessing the future of the beachfront as part of a supplementary planning document (SPD) due to go out to public consultation later this year. The document defines different characteristics for each of the beach areas (Sandbanks = dune landscape, Shore Road = social beach,...
Jubilee Gardens: London
The renovation of Jubilee Gardens, adjacent to The London Eye, was completed in October 2012, after over 10 years in the planning. The end result is a simple understated new public realm which will benefit residents and the thousands of visitors to this park each year. Designed by Landscape Architects West 8, this open space...
World Town Planning Day: 8th November 2012
Did you know about World Town Planning Day? It was founded in Argentina in 1949 with the aim to advance public and professional interest in planning and create a special day to recognise and promote the role of planning in creating liveable communities. WTPD was revived in 1995 by the International Society of City and...
CALA Homes: case conclusion?
The ongoing saga of the CALA Homes planning application for 2000 new homes on a greenfield site north of Winchester reached its conclusion yesterday (2 October 2012), when it was announced that Eric Pickles has granted planning permission for the scheme. ECA were appointed by the ‘Save Barton Farm Action Group’ (SBFG) in 2012 to...
New Design Guidance: Building for Life 12
‘Cabe at the Design Council’ launched new design guidance in the form of Building for Life 12 in September 2012, which is now the industry standard, endorsed by Government for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods, that local communities, local authorities and developers are invited to use to stimulate conversations about creating good places to live. The...
The Olympic legacy
ECA have enjoyed experiencing the London and Weymouth Olympic venues first hand at full throttle. They were able to comfortably handle many thousands of visitors without their feeling crushed or disorientated. The buildings were on the whole well designed – the Velodrome a particular favourite of ours. The parks spilled over with wild flowers, contained a plethora of complex hidden audio systems and appeared...
Planning for Sport and Play
ECA-P attended another excellent course run by the RTPI South West Branch in April 2012. Speakers came from the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA), Sport England, Roger Tym & Partners, and Weymouth & Portland Partnership. While it was interesting to hear of the ODA’s experiences of delivering the Olympic Sites and Legacy Projects, this is not...
Olympic Fever in Weymouth
Just when we were becoming cynical about ‘the Olympic Legacy’ we saw these fantastic new cafe pods on Weymouth Beach. Weymouth and Portland will be hosting the Olympic Sailing Competition this summer, but as Portland and the Sailing Centre itself are actually quite far away from Weymouth, it is sometimes difficult to see what benefits...
National Planning Policy Framework
NATIONAL PLANNING … As part of the government’s ongoing reforms of the planning system, the 57-page National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was published on 27th March 2012, setting out the government’s pro-growth attitude to development. The NPPF is now critical in setting policy objectives, against which local plans are being prepared and decisions made...
Seldown Park
Seldown Park, adjacent to Everyone Active Leisure Centre, is nearing completion. <http://www.leisureprojects.net/dolphin.htm> This is a conventional public realm enhancement project, but in the context of central Poole (surrounded by outdated car parks, bus station and dual carriageways) this provides a refreshing green space. What’s good: • replacement of monotonous, undefined, hard landscaping with grass •...
Twin Sails Bridge, Poole: opening soon
After three opening ceremonies and an enormous outpouring of civic pride, Poole’s Twin Sails Bridge is due to open soon. The bridge provides a second, modern harbour crossing for vehicles and pedestrians, whilst still enabling boats to enter the upper harbour. It will create significant regeneration opportunities: three planning applications are currently being considered by...
Gun Wharf Quays
ECA-P recently ventured to Portsmouth-based retail outlet, Gun Wharf Quays. Retail parks are not the favoured hangout for this company of architects and town planners. Retail parks are generally on the edge or out of town and kill town centres. They often make pretty unpleasant architectural environs, largely made up of tin sheds, fast food outlets and...
Port of Poole Railway Lies Idle
We notice with regret that the railway branch linking the Port of Poole has been fenced off and sits idle. The line runs right the way into the heart of the port and up to the dockside. It is a fantastic piece of infrastructure of the ilk that many local authorities and planners would envy. It remains...
Community Representation
Martha Covell (ECA-P Director of Planning) spoke on behalf of Vision Group for Poole at the Committee meeting for West Quay Road, Poole, on 2 November 2011. She also provided some invaluable technical advice to the community representatives on how and why the officers’ recommendation for approval could be overturned. The Planning Committee voted 9-1...
