The future of housing and jobs in Thurrock today looked bright after the Thurrock Thames Gateway Development Corporation, which is currently driving regeneration in the area, had its lifespan extended.

The move was announced by the minister for housing and planning, Yvette Cooper. (more…)

The south-west is having its housing plans examined at a planning discussion this week.

The level of housing in the south-west is one of several major topics of discussion, whose overall focus is the region’s long term plan.

Factors that influence the number of houses being built in the region will be considered. (more…)

Councils that have introduced an alternate week bin collection scheme have succeeded in raising recycling rates, a report from the Local Government Association (LGA) shows.

The top ten councils with the highest recycling rates in the UK have all adopted the scheme, which sees the council collecting general rubbish one week followed by the recycling bin the next. (more…)

A new commission will examine the barriers that prevent a wider range of candidates from standing at local council elections.

The Commission on Local Councillors will seek to define issues that discourage people from taking on jobs as councillors, such as difficulty getting time off work, balancing the role with home responsibilities, pay, and restrictions on who can become a councillor. (more…)

Fifty-six councils have met or exceeded government planning targets and will be removed from the government’s poor performance list.

National targets for deciding planning applications in a timely fashion are now being met by 75 per cent of councils (277 authorities). (more…)