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It is a remarkable fact that whereas the environment hardly figured on the agenda of Britain's main political parties a decade ago, all of the parties now claim to be [...]

Information on UK government's financing of local governments' management of parks and public open spaces is offered. Additional information on public spaces - winners of the Green Flag Award is included.

The European Union's concerns about the slow rate of garbage recycling and the problem of landfills are growing. The UK's National Waste Strategy is to boost recycling and reduce waste production and to provide grants to councils who need them.

UK government administrators are studying ways on how to reduce car congestion in urban areas, particularly the London streets, and promote environment protection policies without adversely affecting public mobility. Deputy prime minister John Prescott has published a white paper limiting the use of private cars as a way of decongesting British roads. However, the move has been met with considerable opposition from other government agencies.

Local authorities in the UK reveal that they are having a difficult time keeping up with the financial pressures associated with environmental protection. Many county councils complain that budgeting should not be limited to annual undertakings in order for them to successfully complete environmental assessment projects. Meanwhile, the introduction of additional European environmental laws may force the UK government to provide the necessary funding to meet the demands set forth by such legislation.

The UK Government and the devolved administrations in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have adopted a marine policy statement, paving the way for a full set of marine plans intended [...]

The Scottish Government has denied accusations that its waste reduction strategy has been undermined by a new report. Environment secretary Richard Lochhead last month unveiled the SNP's zero waste plan, [...]

Scottish ministers are to consider providing further support for domestic renewables to cope with 'unprecedented' demand. Energy minister Jim Mather made the announcement as it emerged that the home renewables [...]

While total carbon emissions are dropping, those from transport are rising and now account for a third of the UK's output. James Gleave looks at what transport planners can do [...]

The Scottish government has launched a pilot project in the Sound of Mull to shape its first marine bill. Consultation and drop-in sessions will be held this month to provide [...]

Radical approaches to planning in the Norfolk Broads will be needed to counter the effects of climate change, the Broads Authority has said. The authority explained that it would 'need [...]

Renewable energy groups have been downbeat about the draft national policy statements issued last week but ports interests believe that they hit the right note, Matt Scotland learns. The national [...]

The change of use of farmland in Wiltshire to lorry trailer storage has been rejected after an inspector found that economic and transport aims are outweighed by harm to an [...]

A national policy statement (NPS) on carbon capture and storage is urgently needed if the UK is to meet its emissions targets, engineers have claimed. The Institution of Civil Engineers [...]

An environmental coalition wants local development frameworks to have renewable energy targets in its draft guidance proposals. The Planning and Climate Change Coalition featuring more than 30 organisations, including planners [...]

Email your queries or your replies to earlier queries to casebook@haymarket.com or post them to Development Control Casebook Forum, DCS Ltd, Casebook Suite 1, Fullers Court, 40 Lower Quay Street, [...]

Fyson on ... the imperative for government to harness personal responsibility in climate change strategies. Just as the nation marks the 70th anniversary of the Second World War, everyone is [...]

The public cannot fully access more than 1,500km of England's coastline, according to latest research by Natural England. Its study found that there is no satisfactory legally secure access along [...]

Ministers have claimed that local planning authorities are inconsistently using guidance to reduce the length and number of car trips. A low-carbon strategy launched last week says that vehicle fuel [...]

Berkshire planners are having to rethink their 20-year waste strategy after serious questions were raised over its evidence base. Inspector Stephen Pratt, examining the Berkshire minerals and waste core strategy, [...]

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and the types of decisions that may require an environmental statement have been the subject of judicial consideration again. It appears that last year's amendments to [...]

Planning policy on climate change and renewables could be the next to be merged if campaigners lobbying government prove successful. The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and Friends of [...]

Scottish ministers have unveiled 11 proposed developments chosen to be low-carbon showcases. The projects aim to back the objectives of the Scottish sustainable communities initiative and offer design and environmental [...]

A parliamentary committee has concluded that the Marine and Coastal Access Bill will fall foul of European law for not giving landowners a right of appeal. The parliamentary Joint Committee [...]

A marine management body with responsibility for planning powers in Scottish waters was launched last week. Marine Scotland has direct responsibility for planning, marine science, policy development, management and compliance [...]

Significant changes are needed in the management of England's landscapes to let the environment adapt to climate change, Natural England has warned. The agency has published four character area reports [...]

Environmental groups have welcomed the government's green light for the South Downs to become England's ninth national park. The protected area will stretch from Beachy Head to the edge of [...]

New non-domestic buildings in Scotland will have to produce 30 per cent less carbon than allowed under building standards to be introduced in October next year. Detailed consultation on implementing [...]

Tyneside has been chosen as the home for a major new agency with responsibility for UK waters. The area beat bids from Carrick, East Riding of Yorkshire, London, Lowestoft and [...]

The head of the UK Green Building Council has urged ministers to drop plans to let developers meet zero carbon targets by raising the energy efficiency of nearby homes. Speaking [...]

Concern that world heritage site status is holding back development in Edinburgh and distorting the planning process was raised last week by UNESCO inspectors. Following its tour of the city, [...]

The government has rejected recommendations from MPs for councils to lead the way in cutting carbon emissions. In a report this summer, the Commons environmental audit committee said carbon dioxide [...]

The chairman of the government's climate change committee has warned ministers that they will face an uphill struggle to change recommended carbon targets. Speaking at an event hosted by CB [...]

Government planning policies to protect biodiversity and geological conservation are failing, the Commons environmental audit committee warned this week. In a report, MPs complained that PPS9 has failed to bring [...]

Green campaigners have blasted Northern Ireland environment minister Sammy Wilson after he overturned government advice to protect a site in County Tyrone. The Lisnaragh site near Strabane was declared an [...]

The Scottish Government is to launch a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of offshore wind power to keep developments consistent. It follows a call for applications for offshore wind projects from [...]

The UK has joined forces with two Gulf states to secure a mix of green energy supplies that could see hundreds of millions of pounds invested in the sector. A [...]

London Councils has revealed plans to improve the way that the capital manages its waste. The organisation's transport and environment committee called for greater consideration to be given to deploying [...]

The rate of loss may be open to dispute but there seems to be little doubt that the UK's ancient woodland remains under threat despite guidance on biodiversity, Katie Daubney [...]

The government has designated six locations ranging from a residential street to an entire region as England's first zero waste places. Environment minister Jane Kennedy said the places will aim [...]

Councils are being challenged to set carbon reduction targets through their local development frameworks. At an energy event at the Tory conference in Birmingham, Friends of the Earth (FoE) said [...]

Friends of the Earth (FoE) has slammed business secretary John Hutton's moves to press ahead with new coal and nuclear power stations. Hutton told the Labour Party conference that the [...]

Natural England has set out guidelines to help planners use ecologically sensitive designs in London schemes. The Natural London initiative, launched this week, outlines plans for the capital's wildlife, landscapes [...]

Climate change will be a prime consideration in national policy statements (NPSs), communities minister Baroness Andrews insisted this week. Her remarks during a Lords debate on the Planning Bill were [...]

The government is lagging behind its own targets to cut carbon emissions, according to parliamentary environmental scrutiny. The Commons environmental audit committee found that emissions were cut by four per [...]

The government is facing calls to cut the amount of gravel and sand it expects to be quarried in the South East by a third. The South East England Regional [...]

Next week's final examination of the Planning Bill in the Commons will have a crucial bearing on prospects for improving the nation's infrastructure, says Karen Dee. The CBI pursues high-profile [...]

Amid the dross, a nugget emerges from the Whitehall policy machine now and then. Eco-towns have huge potential for combining demand for affordable homes with exemplary environmental standards and an [...]