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Housing and Planning Module (South West Observatory)

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'Important decisions should be based on the best available evidence'

This is the website for the South West Observatory Housing and Planning Module with data, information and analysis about housing and planning in and about South West England.

The Housing and Planning Module is provided by the Homes and Communities Agency (South and South West) and SWO Core Unit. Please let us know if you have any thoughts on how we could improve our site and, of course, email if you have any specific housing or planning-related questions that you need answers to.

*** See slides from the launch of the Housing and Planning Module - 29/11/2011***
HCA Planning Map
Find detailed information on planning in your local area
Housing and Planning Updates 
> INTERACTIVE PLANNING MAPS: Navigate between all local authority (upper tier/county and district) planning websites using our new interactive South and South West planning maps. Use the interactive planning maps now. 
> NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING: What is neighbourhood planning, why does it matter and what could it mean for your community? Find out in this new Neighbourhood Planning section.
> AFFORDABLE RURAL HOUSING E-LEARNING MODULE: Find out about the new HCA e-learning module covering affordable rural housing from 'Learn at HCA'. Covering land identification, planning, rural housing partnerships, community-led affordable housing, design and sustainability, local authority allocation processes and older and vulnerable people in rural areas, this 90 minute online module will help you get a better understanding of the issues and will highlight some of the best examples and sources to help in your work. Sign up. 
> NEW STATISTICAL RELEASE ON HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION AND RELIEF 2010-11: For the first time this year year-on-year comparisons can be made on homelessness prevention and relief. Care should be taken as as more comprehensive reporting by local authorities over time is known to be a contributing factor to the rise in activity seen in the past two years, however figures point towards an increase in homelessness prevention. Read more here.
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News from the Homes and Communities Agency
(to subscribe to this automatic RSS feed, click on the blue icon to the right)
  • Construction Summit to drive efficiency and innovation across the sector
    Construction is critical to the UK government and its economy, and efficiency in social housing can reap large rewards, but there is a new urgency and a pressing need for innovation and engagement with the sector. That's the overarching message from industry leaders. read more 17 May 2012
  • Work starts to bring economic growth to South Hampshire
    Plans to bring thousands of jobs to South Hampshire have taken a further step forward as improvement work has begun on the Solent Enterprise Zone at Daedalus. read more 17 May 2012
  • New homes are a breath of fresh air for Coventry
    A local partnership has marked the unveiling of a new development in Coventry which has completed on time and on budget. Windmill Court is the latest development from Jephson Homes Housing Association Midlands to be completed in partnership with Cassidy Group, a Meriden-based development company.... 15 May 2012
  • Housing of a different kind at Telford Millennium Community
    Observant residents and members of the community may have noticed an unusual style of development progressing at Telford Millennium Community (TMC) throughout April. Thirty-three pupils from Class Nine, Meadows Primary School have been working alongside the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) and... 15 May 2012
  • Thornaby show home opened to promote share ownership
    A new show home on the Mandale Park estate in Thornaby is providing hope for people who had despaired of ever being able to afford their own home. Social landlord Isos Housing, with investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), has launched the show home to demonstrate the quality of... 14 May 2012
  • Portsmouth regeneration project to start in June
    Work on the £130m project to regenerate Tipner, Portsmouth, by bringing new homes, jobs and green space to the area is due to begin within weeks. The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) has agreed a £3m contract to begin the clean-up of the land it owns, along with some owned by Portsmouth City... 14 May 2012
  • Completion of new affordable homes in Smethwick
    Twenty-four homes have been completed to help tackle Smethwick's affordable housing supply. Family Housing has worked in partnership with developer Lovell to complete the homes at Bearwood Road. The homes, a mixture of three and four-bedroom homes and two-bedroom apartments, are being offered... 11 May 2012
  • Green light for flagship extra care scheme
    A £13m extra care scheme is set to help meet the growing demand for older people's housing in South Staffordshire, after planning permission was approved for the flagship scheme. Representatives from Housing Plus, which is developing the extra care scheme, and South Staffordshire Council, and... 11 May 2012
  • Managing risk essential for housing associations' future
    Managing risk is vital if Registered Providers are to maintain financial viability and successfully meet future economic challenges, the new Social Housing Regulator said this week. read more 11 May 2012
  • Summer launch planned for Hanham Hall homes
    The first homes at Barratt's new energy efficient Hanham Hall development near Bristol are now well under way with a summer launch planned for the showhome complex. read more 08 May 2012

South West Observatory Update

SWO Newsletter (Winter 2012)
Click to download the latest SWO newsletter
> ECONOMICS & THE ECONOMY OF 2012 - Join SWO in Taunton on 14 March for an economics masterclass looking at the economy in 2012 and the prospects for the South West. Find out more.
> NEW LOCAL PROFILES 2012- Download our new series of Local Statistical Profiles, covering all Upper Tier areas in the South West. See our profiles.
> CONSULTATIONS - SWO responds to ONS 'Beyond 2011' and 'National Wellbeing Domains and Measures' consultations. Read what we said. 
> RIG MEETING - You can now view presentations on the Census 2011 from the ONS and from Devon County Council from the recent SWO Regional Intelligence Group meeting. View these now.
> ARE YOU ASSOCIATED? - SWO wants to improve its flexibility to respond to calls for analytical expertise and research commissions. If you are interested in being a SWO associate register your interest via SWO Associates.

SWO News RSS Feed (click on this image to subscribe)
News from the South West Observatory Network
(to subscribe to this automatic RSS feed, click on the blue icon to the right)
  • Claimant Count Data Alert - April 2012
    We've just produced the latest in a series of Economic Data alerts looking at yesterday's Claimant Count figures and what they tell us about areas in the South West. Headlines: > Total rate of claimants reduces for second month running, for all LEP areas in the South West > Rates of young... 17 May 2012
  • Cultural Tourism - A Briefing Paper
    The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with an introduction to the concepts of 'cultural tourism' and 'cultural heritage' and present an overview of the state of cultural tourism. The focus of the paper is on South West England but briefly extends to the UK and Europe. Given the many... 24 April 2012
  • Culture Module's Finding the Dots - April 2012
    With information on the Changing State of the South West 2012 recent SWO publication, including cultural, heritage and sporting information, download a copy of the Culture Module's 'Finding the Dots' bulletin. This contains information on local, regional and national research and... 24 April 2012
  • ONLINE - The Changing State of the South West 2012 now available
    At the end of March 2012 we published a web version of the 'Changing State of the South West 2012', with all accompanying maps and charts from the printed hard copy available to download. To access the online report click on the link. 30 March 2012
  • Good News for Cultural Infrastructure in the South West
    The cultural dimension to planning and infrastructure development is acknowledged in the newly published National Planning Policy Framework after much campaigning (DCLG, 27 March 2012) and specifically in relation to Green Belt exclusions and town centres. Furthermore, Arts Council... 30 March 2012
  • Injury Profiles for Local Authorities in England Launched
    The rates of people killed and admitted to hospital due to injury differs dramatically from one local authority to another. These are the findings from the Injury Profiles, a new online data tool launched today by the South West Public Health Observatory (SWPHO) on behalf of Public Health... 26 March 2012
  • SWO Budget Briefings
    23 March 2012
  • BBC Points West - Our Economy
    On Monday night, BBC's Points West hosted a debate in Bristol, looking at the future of the regional economy, and what the big issues are for politicians, businesses, individuals, and the public and private sector. The debate aimed to air some of the key concerns and priorities for the region in... 20 March 2012
Take an interactive tour of the SWO network (requires Flash player)
Twitter
Tweets from the Homes and Communities Agency via Twitter
(Follow @HCA_UK on Twitter or click on the link)
Popular Sections 
House Price (click to find the relevant section of the site)
Affordable Housing
Localism (click here to access the relevant section of the site)
Data Button (click here to access the data section)
Contact Us

> Please email any enquiries to planning@swo.org.uk

> If your enquiry is urgent, you can always contact us on 01823-447399