Coles Farm (formerly Manor)...

Work continues on the Manor House with the construction of the Utility, shower room and Gym as well as the second fix to the main house. The Thatcher is due in two weeks time to roof over the former outbuildings which will transform the image of the dwelling considerably. The new custodians of this historic property are to change the name to Coles Farm (or Colses Farm) which for some locally may appear strange, though this was the original name for the farm in the 18th Century, only having changed to the Manor House at the turn of the 20th Century. This is a more fitting name for the property and a nice touch by the new owners.

Localism and the National Planning Policy Framework: implications for local government...

Taken from the Planning Advisory Service website (www.pas.gov.uk):

The Government is making some significant changes to the planning system that will affect the responsibilities of all local planning authorities. The intention is to make the planning system one that better supports sustainable economic growth and jobs, underpinned with the principles of localism, with less ‘top-down’ prescription and more ‘bottom up’ involvement.

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will set out the Government’s priorities for planning in England. It will replace the current raft of planning policy guidance notes and statements with one document of less than 60 pages. The final version will be published around the end of 2011 or early 2012.

The regional tier of planning is to be abolished, including Regional Spatial Strategies and their associated housing targets. This will give you more freedom and flexibility to work with your neighbours and other bodies (as covered by the ‘duty to co-operate’) to do the strategic planning for your area.

Your authority will need to have a plan in place to guide development to the right place, and against which to make planning decisions. Without an up-to-date local plan, development decisions will be made on the basis of national policy, with the presumption being ‘yes’. Some predict an increase in ‘planning by appeal’ where there is no up-todate local plan.

Neighbourhoods and parishes will increasingly be able to take on planning in their areas. You will need to work with them – managing their expectations and helping them to understand what they can and can’t do.

This document aims to give chief executives a brief overview of the significant changes to the planning system and the implications of the changes.

Art Deco Exhibitions...

Major new exhibitions on Art Deco architecture:

Puttin' on the Glitz:The Golden Years of Art Deco Architecture in Britain

01 October 2011 - 26 November 2011

Monday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm (Tuesday 10am - 10pm)

Venue:

Gallery 2, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD

Art Deco Triumphant: TheExposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, Paris1925

01 October 2011 - 26 November 2011
Tuesday 10am - 8pm Wednesday and Friday 10am - 5pm Saturday 10am - 1.30pm

Closed Monday, Thursday and Sunday

Venue:

British Architectural Library, RIBA, 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD

Dunkeswell...

Design for a new 2-bed single storey dwelling in Dunkeswell, Devon, prepared and ready for a planning submission. The building sits high on the site, but this has been made necessary by the foul water drainage from the existing bungalow that is to pass under the new dwelling, being at a depth of only 120mm.

RIBA Stirling Prize 2011...and the winner is...

Congratulations to Zaha Hadid Architects.


The Evelyn Grace Academy, a cutting-edge new secondary school in Brixton, south London by Zaha Hadid Architects has won the prestigious £20,000 RIBA Stirling Prize 2011 for the best new European building built or designed in the United Kingdom.