National Policy Forum - Your Southeast CLP representatives

Sustainable Communities

Latest news



June 4 2008
Massive increase in wind power announced

The government has announced plans for a huge increase in offshore wind power. Up to 7,000 new turbines are hoped to be built by 2020, trebling the amount of power to be generated by wind farm projects currently under development. The Crown Estate, which owns the UK seabed, has agreed to invest up to 50% of the cost of obtaining planning consent for wind farm sites.

It is hoped the scheme will see the delivery of up to 25 gigawatts of electricity by wind power in 12 years.



June 6 2008
Olympic legacy will revolutionise sport

Following a meeting in Downing Street this morning, the Government revealed measures in its £140m Legacy Action Plan that include free swimming to all over-60s with a view to providing free swimming for all by 2012; getting two million people more active by 2012 through the new Sport England strategy; and overhauling the way that Sport England invests in sport through new relationships with national governing bodies to increase participation.

The meeting was attended by Sports Secretary Andy Burnham and Olympics minister Tessa Jowell as well as representatives from sporting and health bodies such as the FA, Lawn Tennis Association, Cycling England and the National Heart Forum.


June 26 2008
Massive increase in renewable energy announced

At the Government's Low Carbon Economy Summit, the Prime Minister announced a massive commitment to increasing the use of renewable energy. The Government plans to invest £100 billlion over the next twelve years to meet the "immense challenge". Tidal, solar and wind power will all have a part to play in the future.
Investment in renewables would bring an improvement in energy security due to more diverse supplies, a reduction in projected energy bills, and the creation of hundreds of thousands of new jobs and business opportunities, the PM said.

"And this is the biggest prize of all: the chance to seize the economic future - securing our prosperity as a nation by reaping the benefits of the global transition to a low carbon economy.
"For the fact is that, in the 21st century, the global low carbon economy will be a key driver of our economic prosperity."

Under today's proposals, the UK will extend and raise the renewable energy to encourage 30-35 per cent of electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020.


July 16 2008
Rent now, buy later scheme to help housing needs

A "rent first, buy later" scheme is heading a series of measures which the government hopes will breathe new life into the housing market. The pilot project, being announced by Housing Minister Caroline Flint, will be open to some in England with household earnings under £60,000. They would rent the property at a discounted rate for two or three years, with an option to buy part of it.

Ms Flint was also announcing that Barking and Dagenham, Newcastle, Nottingham and Manchester will be the first areas to run local housing companies for housing developments on surplus council land.


Community land trusts to help speed up house building
July 21 2008

A scheme to deliver more affordable homes for young families and first-time buyers is being set out today by Housing Minister Iain Wright. nder a new radical amendment to the Housing and Regeneration Bill being debated in Parliament today, new Community Land Trusts (CLT) will be able to cut the cost of getting on the housing ladder as buyers will only pay for the building, not the land, of a property.

CLTs puts communities in the centre stage in agreeing what land should be developed for, including building more affordable homes, as local residents and businesses participate in and take responsibility for planning and delivering development schemes.


Prime Minister launches green car revolution
July 22 2008

Gordon Brown has set out the Government's plans to kick-start a motoring revolution by driving the shift to low-carbon and electric cars in the the UK. This follows the Prime Minister's call on the EU last week to set tougher mandatory fuel emissions standards, such as cutting the average car's CO2 output per kilometre by 40 percent by 2020.
Suggested measures include:

• Removing barriers in the planning system to enable an electric charging network to be set up as quickly as possible.
• Collaborating with other countries - including Germany, France, Denmark, and Portugal - on international industry standards.
• Launching a study on issues relating to the development and commercialisation of electric cars, with findings to be indluded in a low-carbon manufacturing strategy in the autumn.
• Working with the National Grid and energy companies to assess the impact on the electricity system of the widespread use of electric vehicles and ensure adequate capacity.
• Providing more than £90m of funding for UK research, development and demonstration of low carbon vehicles over the next five years, and an additional £20m to provide lead markets for low carbon vehicles through the use of strategic public procurement.
• Accelerating the pace of transition to low emissions vehicles, so that within the next three years new car purchases for all Government departments average 130g/km CO2 or less.

Other Pages

Sustainable Communities News 2008

Sustainable Communities News 2007

Commission Work Programme 2007

November 2006 report

August 2006 report

June 2006 report

Commission Work Programme 2006