Cambridgeshire Area Planning Training Series
Cambridgeshire Planning Skills Series 2015 – 2016
Programme of 6 Workshops
Useful Information
Timings
All sessions run on Wednesday afternoons from 1.30 to 4.30pm (please note earlier start time than
last year) with registration and refreshments from 1.10pm.
Training venues
The two training locations are:
 Cambridge City Council, Guildhall, Cambridge CB2 3QJ www.cambridge.gov.uk/the-guildhall
 Huntingdonshire District Council offices at Pathfinder House, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN.
www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/pages/contact%20us.aspx
Thanks to both councils.
Public car parks are near both venues, plus Park and Ride option for Cambridge.
Audience
The appropriate audience is indicated for each session below.
All
Training designed for all planners
DM
Particularly useful for Development Management staff, but all planners welcome.
Please refer to content to indicate relevance, and complexity level, and later the agendas.
Bookings
Please make all bookings via your Council’s Bookings Co-ordinator, who will complete and return the
booking spreadsheet. Booking Co-ordinators – further detail can be found on the ‘instructions’ tab of
the booking spreadsheet. All bookings/changes should be sent to: fstprojects@anglia.ac.uk
Substitutions are welcome but please let us know of any cancellations as soon as possible, so spare
spaces can be reallocated.
Materials
Agendas and workshop paperwork can be downloaded prior to each event from:
www.cambsplanningskills.wordpress.com. Please test this link and advise if you have any access
issues. This programme has been uploaded to the site for your reference.
Enquiries
If you have any enquiries about session content please contact Lewis Herbert
lewis.herbert@anglia.ac.uk or 0774 853 6153. Lewis would also be happy to discuss any enquiries
about
other short
course
planning
training
or
our Town
Planning
MSc
www.anglia.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/town-planning.
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Cambridgeshire Area Planning Training Series
Detailed Programme
*Suggestions of local case studies are welcome for workshops 2) 4) and 6)*
1. Understanding the Politics of Planning and Role of Councillors
Date:
Wednesday 30th September 2015
Venue:
Cambridge City Council
Speakers:
Speakers include Councillor John Hipkin, Cambridge City and County Councillor
and planning specialist.
Audience:
All
Understanding the local political dimension of planning and the different roles of Councillors.
Developing Planning Committee members and getting the most from working with them.
Predetermination versus Predisposition, and ensuring Councillors understand them.
Assisting sound Committee decision making including where overturns, and avoiding appeals.
2. Good Design for Adaptations, including in Conservation Areas
Date:
Wednesday 21st October 2015
Venue:
Huntingdonshire District Council
Speakers:
Andrew Claiborne, architect and Course Group Leader for Architecture and
Planning - Anglia Ruskin University, and David Balcombe Conservation Officer
invited.
Audience:
DM
Design issues for small schemes, including adaptations/extensions to older buildings.
Buildings with significant conservation value and development in Conservation Areas.
Choice of building materials and finish options.
Group work looking at examples.
3. Planned and Recent Changes to the Planning System
Date:
Wednesday 18th November 2015
Venue:
Huntingdonshire District Council
Speakers:
National and local perspectives.
Audience:
All
Policy changes affecting Local Plans and planning policy - including interpretation of five year land supply.
New Government changes and ‘Productivity Plan - Fixing the Foundations’ - including brownfield land
development changes.
Wider Development management changes.
Recent Inspectorate responses on Local Plans and appeal decisions on applications.
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Cambridgeshire Area Planning Training Series
4. Delivering Affordable Housing
Date:
Wednesday 9th December 2015
Venue:
Huntingdonshire District Council
Speakers:
Anthony Little of BNP Paribas and Laura Welch from Three Dragons.
Audience:
All
Affordable housing and local planning policy.
Calculating affordable housing need, and understanding issues affecting supply.
Different types of affordable housing and how they impact on viability.
Delivery and roles of Housing Associations, councils and developers.
Impact of 2015 July budget statement, and wider Government policy changes.
5. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) - Screening and Scoping
Date:
Wednesday 20th January 2016
Venue:
Cambridge City Council
Speakers:
Paul Reid, EIA specialist
Mouchel Consultants invited
Audience:
All
Screening - when is an EIA needed?
Scoping - determining the content and extent of the matters to be covered in the EIA.
2011 EIA Regulations, recent judicial review decisions and expected changes in EU requirements.
Wider issues including stakeholder engagement, and case study group work on scoping.
6. Producing Effective Planning Briefs For Development Sites
Date:
Wednesday 24th February 2016
Venue:
Cambridge City Council
Speakers:
Roger Estop of Chelmsford Borough Council invited.
Audience:
All
Use of local planning policy and Supplementary Planning Documents on influence design and proposals for
specific areas/sites.
Making the most of Planning Briefs.
Wider master planning options.
Achieving major impact with limited resources, including pre-application discussions.
Includes a recap on the series.
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