Government revamps urban development corporations
The government has overhauled the country’s three urban development corporations (UDCs), in a move that revamps delivery arrangements and devolves local planning responsibility.
The shake-up – following a review conducted five years after the UDCs were set up – sees Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation absorbed into the Homes and Communities Agency, with staff and projects transferring across.
The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation will continue in its current form until after the Olympic Games, working on regeneration at London Riverside but with increasing focus on the regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley. The LTGDC’s future will be reviewed once the Olympic Delivery Authority has been wound up and the two organisations’ planning responsibilities discharged.
A number of London boroughs – Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney – have been asked to submit proposals for a new planning regime for the Lower Lea Valley. The two London Riverside boroughs of Havering and Barking and Dagenham have also been invited to propose a new planning regime for their area.
The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) – which supports regeneration in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester – is meanwhile to return some of its planning responsibilities to local planning authorities. Currently responsible for applications involving 50 or more homes and most applications in Northampton town centre, from April 2011 the WNDC will focus on schemes with 200 homes or more and major commercial schemes.
Thames Gateway minister Shahid Malik said: “The new arrangements will ensure we continue regeneration in these areas during these tough times. These are the right changes to make at the right time and will benefit people living and working in communities throughout the Thames Gateway.”
Regeneration minister Ian Austin, responsible for regeneration in West Northamptonshire, said: “The regeneration and sustainable growth of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester remains an important priority and will benefit from a stronger, more focussed urban development corporation working closely with local authorities and communities.”
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The government has overhauled the country’s three urban development corporations (UDCs), in a move that revamps delivery arrangements and devolves local planning responsibility.
The shake-up – following a review conducted five years after the UDCs were set up – sees Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation absorbed into the Homes and Communities Agency, with staff and projects transferring across.
The London Thames Gateway Development Corporation will continue in its current form until after the Olympic Games, working on regeneration at London Riverside but with increasing focus on the regeneration of the Lower Lea Valley. The LTGDC’s future will be reviewed once the Olympic Delivery Authority has been wound up and the two organisations’ planning responsibilities discharged.
A number of London boroughs – Newham, Tower Hamlets and Hackney – have been asked to submit proposals for a new planning regime for the Lower Lea Valley. The two London Riverside boroughs of Havering and Barking and Dagenham have also been invited to propose a new planning regime for their area.
The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) – which supports regeneration in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester – is meanwhile to return some of its planning responsibilities to local planning authorities. Currently responsible for applications involving 50 or more homes and most applications in Northampton town centre, from April 2011 the WNDC will focus on schemes with 200 homes or more and major commercial schemes.
Thames Gateway minister Shahid Malik said: “The new arrangements will ensure we continue regeneration in these areas during these tough times. These are the right changes to make at the right time and will benefit people living and working in communities throughout the Thames Gateway.”
Regeneration minister Ian Austin, responsible for regeneration in West Northamptonshire, said: “The regeneration and sustainable growth of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester remains an important priority and will benefit from a stronger, more focussed urban development corporation working closely with local authorities and communities.”
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