National Trust welcomes planning changes

The government has listened to public concerns on planning according to the National Trust and in response to the publication of the final National Planning Policy Framework the Trust has welcomed the improvements.

Dame Fiona Reynolds the director-general of the National Trust, said: “There are a number of important changes that have been made to the draft, responding to concerns that we and others raised.

“All these changes improve the document and give it a better tone and balance. 

“Now the serious business of planning begins. The country needs huge effort at a local level to get plans in place that properly reflect the integration of social, economic and environmental goals, and protect places people value.

“The National Trust, along with many other organisations and people, will play our part and watch to see how it works in practice.

“Over 230,000 people signed our petition against the draft NPPF – a sign of the huge public concern it generated. Now we owe it to them and future generations to get good plans in place to deliver the improved ambitions set out in the new document.”

£2.8m project for seafront gardens

Mott MacDonald has been appointed by Suffolk Coastal District Council on a £2.8 million project to restore and enhance 1km of seafront gardens in Felixstowe. This is a landscape architecture lead project with the consultancy providing a wide range of complimentary engineering services, including civil, structural, geotechnical, mechanical and electrical, as well as CDMC, ecology and hydrology inputs. 

The scheme has various funding streams, primarily a Heritage Lottery Fund grant of £2.2million but also from the Local Authority Business Growth Incentive Scheme, Haven Gateway Partnership and Suffolk Coastal District Council. 

One of the contractual requirements to obtain a Heritage Lottery Fund grant is to aim to achieve Green Flag status in the gardens. This involves providing a management plan to ensure the longevity of the gardens for future generations. 

The site is south east facing and has an array of differing microclimates due to its undulating topography and mature planting design. With a brisk sea breeze through most of the year the proposed planting designs will need to include hardy ornamentals, providing colour throughout the seasons. There will be the opportunity for various styles of planting including the regeneration of the Victorian beds, rose gardens, woodland walks through the terraces, structural shrub planting and edible seashore planting to engage with the local community. The commission is due to be completed in spring 2014.

Log book helps surveyors put spotlight on hidden horrors

Surveyors can uncover hidden horrors in homes across the UK thanks to a pioneering project which will improve the standard of the service they offer.

The Institute of Specialist Surveyors and Engineers – ISSE  – Home Log Book is set to revolutionise the property industry by providing an in-depth, detailed examination of the inside as well as the outside of people’s homes.

Now, the institute is preparing to provide accreditation for surveyors who can then implement the scheme, which uncovers hidden, internal as well as external, problems, including toxic mould audits, not covered in standard reports.

For a fee agreed with the property owner, ISSE trained and certificated surveyors carry out a thorough examination of a property to establish if hazardous decorative or structural materials have been used, determine the adequacy of ventilation, identify security features and examine the likelihood of external environmental impact, such as flooding.

The ISSE surveyor will then draw up a schedule of any required repairs with a full quotation from an approved contractor, trained and qualified in compliance with ISSE licensing regulations.

The report is then stored along with supporting documents and guarantees, providing an easy-to-access paper trail showing what work has been carried out, when and by whom.