The coalition has set out its detailed plans for the next five years including replacing regional development agencies with a new system of local enterprise partnerships.
The government has this morning published its 34-page document “The coalition: our programme for government” setting out the results of last week’s policy negotiations. It set out more details of its overhaul of regional development agencies, as well as confirming changes to the planning system and its plans to reduce the £163bn budget deficit.
Among its plans it said it would create Local Enterprise Partnerships – …

The Conservative party has appointed an advisory group of property big-hitters including Mark Clare, chief executive of Barratt, Peter Nears, strategic planning director of Peel, and BPF chief Liz Peace.
The group of planning and property bosses, which is also understood to include representatives from the House Builders Federation, the Planning Officers Society, and RICS,  met for the first time on 6 April, after being invited by shadow secretary of state for Communities and Local Government Caroline Spelman.
The panel was appointed to give expert advice on the Conservatives’ promise to devolve …

Public sector workers could take home bonuses for making savings such as property efficiencies, under new plans unveiled by the Conservatives.
On Saturday, the Tories published their Invitation to Public Sector Workers, a manifesto that promises to give 5 million people working in the public sector more power over the services they deliver.
The Conservatives say they want public officers to be able to bid to create co-operative enterprises, which would they could run independently and with more freedom.
They say co-operatives that find efficiencies would be able to pay themselves bonuses out …

The Royal Town Planning Institute today urged the next government to “build on the strong foundations” of the existing planning system instead of overhauling it.
Launching the RTPI’s manifesto, policy and practice chair Martin Willey said the existing planning system was world class and it should be expanded on.
This would go against Conservative plans to introduce sweeping reforms to the planning system, such as giving local people more power and abolishing Regional Spatial Strategies and building targets.
“Our town and country planning system is respected around the world for the
way in which …

Labour and the Conservatives will go head-to-head on property in a live televised debate just days before the General Election and hosted on Public Property UK.
Labour’s housing and planning minister John Healey and Conservative shadow local government and planning minister Bob Neill will be grilled by Public Property UK’s audience as well as debate chairman, Property Week editor Giles Barrie, on 27 April.
Quiz the ministers yourself on anything from regeneration and planning to housing and the wider economy by submitting your questions to .
Click here to register for the …

What it is: The Liberal Democrat party manifesto for the 2010 general election.
Simply called Manifesto 2010, this is the Lib Dems’ opportunity to spell out how  they might influence government in the event of a hung parliament on 6 May.
When it came out: 14 April 2010
Why it is important: The Lib Dems have backed the Tories on planning policy, supporting the idea of third-party right of appeal for certain planning decisions. They make broad pledges to cut the public deficit by axing Regional Development Agencies that are underperforming, among other …

The Liberal Democrats have today pledged support for the Conservatives’ proposed overhaul to the planning system.
The Lib Dems want to introduce third-party right of appeal where applications contradict local plans and axe quangos including the Infrastructure Planning Commission, according to its 109-page election manifesto, which was published today. These back up policies set out in the Tory manifesto on Tuesday.
The Lib Dem document, simply called “Manifesto 2010″, also pledges to end ‘garden grabbing’ and backs Competition Commission calls for a local competition test for all planning applications for new retail …

What it is: The Conservative Party manifesto for the 2010 general election.
It calls itself an Invitation to Join the Government of Britain, as the Tories try to convince the public that they can give all British citizens more power over government.
When it came out: 13 April 2010
Why it is important: It confirms Tory pledges ot devolve powers over planning to local communities, as well as promising to upstage Labour’s pledges on making public property savings.
To read the manifesto in full, click here: Conservatives Manifesto 2010

What it is: The Labour Party manifesto for the 2010 general election, as it tries to convince the public that it deserves a fourth Parliamentary term.
When it came out: 12 April 2010
Why it is important: It sets out Labour pledges for areas including planning and property, although many of its property policies were set out at last month’s Budget.
To read the manifesto click here: Labour Party election manifesto

The Labour Party had said it would take tough action on reducing the cost of running its property if it won a fourth term at the general election on 6 May.
This morning, the party launched its manifesto which included a pledge to be “relentless in making sure that the public gets value for money for every pound spent”. It said this would include an overhaul of how government works, including cutting back office and property running costs.
It also said it would abolish unnecessary arm’s length bodies and sharply reduce spending …