Local planning laws should be relaxed to allow households to install greener energy sources more easily and generate their own power.

A new study by the New Local Government Network (NLGN) claims that UK households should receive grants and tax rebates to install renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines, with planning legislation relaxed to boost uptake of microgeneration. (more…)

Ministers have insisted that environmental obligations will remain when a revised planning policy on climate change for English councils is published towards the end of the year.

Responding to reports about plans to drop the "Merton Rule", the government has insisted that the policy will remain in place and planning authorities and their network partners will be required to ensure that environmental measures are in place before approving applications, potentially increasing the number of planning jobs available. (more…)

The UK insurance industry is calling on the government to review its planning policies and to reconsider its decision to allow the development of new homes on flood plains.

The Association of British Insurers has written to environment secretary Hilary Benn urging him to increase spending on the nation’s flood defences and drainage management. (more…)

An ID card that works on a smaller scale than the proposed National Identity Card and would be issued by councils may be more efficient, a think-tank has stated recently.

Such an "entitlement card" could both help fight the spread of identity fraud and also provide better access to services, according to the New Local Government Network (NLGN). (more…)

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has released a paper urging local planning decisions being moved from local authority planning departments.

Planners need to focus on local developments, which would boost speed and competency, the paper, which was submitted to the government’s planning white paper consultation, argues. (more…)