Wednesday 7 September 2011

Planning Myth? You Decide

Planning's a pretty topical media subject at the moment, with the reform of national planning guidance being hailed as a developers charter and the planning system declared as an overweight ball of red tape that ties its users in knots and generally gets in the way of all that's good about development for our economy. 

Clearly miffed at some of some of the negative press its Members have been getting, The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has instigated a campaign to dispel some of the more prevalent planning myths:

- The default response to a planning application is a resounding 'no'; 
- Planning is slow
- Planning is costly;
- The planning system is a drag on economic growth
- It forces house prices up

If any of this sounds familiar or touches a nerve, you might want to take a minute to check out the RTPI's website for the full story.  Planning myth?  You decide:
http://www.rtpi.org.uk/download/12742/Planning-Myths.pdf

Tuesday 6 September 2011

Morecambe FC 'On Song'

MAZE Planning Solutions is working with its established client, Morecambe Football Club, to bring an exciting new music event to the town, which would be hosted at the club's Globe Arena stadium. Proposals are being worked up for a 2 or 3 day music festival which it is hoped could become an annual event in July each year, starting in 2012.

MAZE has submitted a planning application to Lancaster City Council to vary an existing planning condition which currently restricts use of the stadium to sporting events only. Understandably it's a cause of concern to some local residents worried about noise and crowds, but the Football Club is well used to managing events and will be working with specialist concert promoters and managers to ensure the process runs smoothly.

The planning application is supported by Noise Assessment work undertaken by specialist adviser, Hepworth Acoustics, and it's proposed that events will comply with the Noise Council's Code of Practice for noise control at concerts, a nationally recognised standard of good practice.

Development of the visitor economy in Morecambe, including festivals and other such special events, is a key corporate priority for Lancaster City Council. Events at Globe Arena would raise the town's profile as a leisure destination, encourage more visitors to the District and bring with it expenditure on overnight stays, eating out, shopping and related activities to boost local businesses.

It's hoped that planning permission will be granted shortly so that preparations for the inaugural 2012 event can be put in motion.

Leo Group - Website Launch

The Leo Group is one of the UK's leading environmental companies, playing a major role in waste management, recycling and renewable energy. MAZE Planning Solutions is proud to have worked alongside Leo Group since 2007 on various projects, including Bronte Business Park (Bradford), and the company's rendering plants at Kintore (Aberdeenshire) and Penrith.

During that relatively short period of time we've watched the company grow and mature as it continues to invest in innovative technology to recover, reuse and recycle almost anything, and create valuable products, commodities and clean energy in the process.

Leo Group has recently launched a new website profiling the company's activities throughout the UK and Europe. Its property portfolio is diverse, comprising over 1,500 acres of land and 600,000sqft of buildings.

The company is seeking new opportunities throughout the UK and Europe to add to its portfolio.

To learn more about our client go to http://www.leogroupltd.co.uk/ or click on the link below to view a Special Supplement recently published by Yorkshire Post Newspapers profiling the company.

http://edition.pagesuite-professional.co.uk/launch.aspx?referral=other&pnum=&refresh=Me206B1ip14D&EID=2d8ff77a-6594-4ee2-a744-dace686e210f&skip