Sectors

Development Planning & Policy

Locally, nationally and internationally, Alliance Planning has a proven track record of being an integral part of assessing and enabling a better understanding of town planning and planning policy issues that aid in the formulation of a strategic approach to complex spatial, environmental and commercial considerations.

Planning Advisory Service

Client: Planning Advisory Service/Various Local Planning Authorities

The Planning Advisory Service (PAS) is a cutting edge Government Agency forming part of the IDEA. It is committed to improving the performance of Local Planning Authorities. The PAS sought a Panel of consultants to advise and assist them in securing these improvements. Alliance Planning secured a place on the Panel through clear demonstration of understanding and up-to-date knowledge of how Local Planning Authorities currently work and how good practice measures could be introduce to improve performance and service delivery.

International and National Research under MIST

Client: DCLG MIST Programme and DfID Sustainable Communities

Alliance has successfully undertaken a number of recent research projects including in 2007 under the Government funded MIST programme offering web based guidance to elected Council members on the planning system for minerals in conjunction with BGS, part of the Natural Environment research Council. Earlier work for the Department for International Development (DfID) developing guidance for the control of mining in the rapidly developing economies of Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Rugby Open Space and Recreation Study

Alliance Planning led the preparation of this PPG17 compliant open space and recreation study for the Borough of Rugby. In conjunction with Halcrow Group, Alliance Planning undertook a comprehensive audit of the distribution, quantity and quality of Rugby’s open spaces and recreation facilities. An analysis of the existing open space provision enabled us to identify deficiencies and surpluses in type, quality and accessibility of recreation facilities and open space provision.

Community and stakeholder consultation enabled us to establish the existing and future needs of the Borough’s residents. To assist with the assessment of Rugby’s level of playing field provision and to help identify priorities for pitch improvement and management, Sport England’s Playing Field Toolkit was used.

The Open Space Study will help inform the preparation of Rugby’s Local Development Framework and will support the implementation of Local Plan policies and provide the Council with the necessary up-to-date information to inform planning application decisions and S106 negotiations.

Development Plan Representations

Client: Church of Scotland

Alliance Planning has been retained by the Church to promote various of its sites in relation to emerging development plans. The role involves producing planning appraisals for the site identifying the constraints affecting them and advising upon the likelihood of them being allocated for developing and subsequently submitting formal representations.

London LDF Monitor

Alliance Planning’s London Office have produced an LDF Monitor identifying the Policy Document stages reached by all London Borough Councils and the GLA. In a rapidly changing policy environment, Core Strategies, CIL Charging Schedules, and Development Management Policies are being produced in ever increasing numbers. To keep up to date with who is producing what, and when consultation periods are running, please use our guide by following the link below:

http://www.alliance-plan.co.uk/cmsUploads/blogPost/files/London%20LDF%20March%202012.pdf

West Midlands LDF Monitor

Alliance Planning’s Birmingham Office have produced an LDF Monitor identifying the Policy Document Stages reached by all West Midlands Councils. In a rapidly changing policy environment, Core Strategies, CIL Charging Schedules, and Development Management Policies are being produced in ever increasing numbers.  To keep up to date with who is producing what, and when consultation periods are running, please use our guide.

http://www.alliance-plan.co.uk/cmsUploads/blogPost/files/West%20Midlands%20LDF%20Monitor.pdf

Safeguarding Minerals Policy Research Project

The primary purpose of this research study was to undertake an examination of mineral safeguarding policy and practice in minerals related LDDs in England. The research findings and analysis will provide necessary information to inform the preparation of an update and expansion to “A Guide to Mineral Safeguarding in England”, which was published by British Geological Survey (BGS) in 2007 to complement Minerals Policy Statement 1: Planning and Minerals. The research study will help support the delivery of sound minerals related LDDs and provide a robust framework for mineral safeguarding policy preparation. The research comprised of three related but distinct parts: 

Regional Analysis: Drawing on the adopted and emerging RSS, the analysis provided an understanding of the existing mineral safeguarding policy actions at the regional level. 

Minerals Development Framework Analysis: Having evaluated a suite of adopted minerals related LDDs and Inspector’s Reports a series of good practice mineral safeguarding case studies were developed. In particular, this provided an understanding of the development, and use of safeguarding policy in LDDs. The ultimate objective was the delivery of a clear set of recommendations that will assist MPAs prepare sound mineral safeguarding policy.

Practical analysis: Having evaluated existing mineral safeguarding policies and approaches at both the regional and local level, the final step was to examine through telephone interviews and questionnaires with MPAs and minerals industry the practical implementation of mineral safeguarding policy. This highlighted instances where mineral resources have been sterilised by non-mineral development and where the presence of mineral resource has resulted in the refusal of non-mineral planning applications.

Provision of recommendations for the delivery of sound RSS and LDD mineral safeguarding policy.

 

Tower Hamlets Sustainability Appraisal

Client: London Borough of Tower Hamlets

Alliance Planning in association with WSP Environmental have been appointed by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal of the Tower Hamlets Local Development Framework (LDF). Under the four year contract the project team will undertake sustainability appraisal work in respect of all emerging LDF documents and policies.

The Sustainability Appraisal will have a key role in delivering sustainable development throughout the Borough. The Sustainability Appraisal will ensure that sustainability considerations are reflected in plan and policy preparation.

This will be a unique project with Tower Hamlets the host borough for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and with two of the fourteen Thames Gateway zones of change- the Isle of Dogs and Lower Lea falling wholly or in part within Tower Hamlets. As part of the Council’s programme for sustainable development the following documents will be subject to assessment via this contract:    

• LDF Core Strategy Development Plan Document (DPD);
• LDF Development Control DPD;
• LDF Site Allocations DPD (covering over 150 sites);
• Whitechapel Master Plan SPD
• Aldgate Master Plan SPD
• Bromley by Bow Master Plan SPD
• Fish Island Mater Plan SPD
• All topic specific SPDs including Planning Obligations SPD
• Tower Hamlets Sustainable Community Strategy.

The Sustainability Appraisal work will feed into the Tower Hamlets LDF and will have a key part in ensuring that the Council’s LDF Core Strategy meet the tests of soundness and that sustainability is at the core of all the Council’s policies and plans.


Sectors Index