What it is: The government has set out its plan for growth in the UK regions in the absence of regional development agencies, which are due to be closed down by 2012.
When it came out: 28 October 2010
Why it is important: It sets out changes to the planning system, more …

Housing minister Grant Shapps has today announced that local authorities will be given freedom to spend council housing revenues as they want, rather than handing them back to central government.
Under proposals set to be introduced in the forthcoming localism bill, the government will remove the obligation to pay council house …

The coalition has created a dangerous void by scrapping asset management targets for councils, a senior adviser at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy has warned.
Speaking today at the Association of Chief Estates Surveyors autumn conference, CIPFA’s Chris Brain said the government’s scrapping of Comprehensive Area Assessments (CAAs) …

The British Urban Regeneration Association (BURA) is set to go into voluntary liquidation, it has emerged today.
The body, which represents UK regeneration professionals, is set to disband following a meeting with creditors on 6 September.
The company’s financial problems have forced its directors to commence voluntary liquidation proceedings according to a …

Lewisham Borough Council has become the first council in seven weeks to secure funding for a Building Schools for the Future (BSF) project.
Deptford Green School, which is part of the last government’s shelved £55bn school building scheme, can now be built after the council secured £28.5m from financing partners earlier …

An alliance of planning bodies has attacked the government over proposals to create local housing trusts, which would vote on house building schemes in rural areas.
The Rural Coalition, which is backed by the Royal Town Planning Institute among others, is urging the government to reconsider allowing 10% of residents to …

The coalition should look at banning public sector strike action that affects important public services, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development has warned today.
In its latest report on Building Productive Public Sector Workplaces, the CIPD says that “there are a number of high stakes options” the government should consider in …

The HCA London Board, which is chaired by the mayor, has pledged to commit more than £51.7m of investment for 16 housing and regeneration schemes, which will deliver 518 affordable homes in the capital.
The schemes, which were part of the previous government’s housing pledge, have been at risk because of …

Scottish ministers are looking for UK government support to make the Crown Estate more accountable.
On Sunday, members of the Scottish parliament raised concerns with the coalition government over the Crown Estate’s lack of accountability to Scottish ministers despite its managing of the whole seabed up to 12 miles from shore …

The government is to announce the end of regional development agencies this week, with a view to saving the government £2.3bn a year.
Communities secretary Eric Pickles is expected to formalise his plan to scrap RDAs later this week ahead of the emergency Budget next Tuesday.
The plan is to bring an …