Group Development Services’ Post

It's world Town Planning day! Here's to celebrating all the incredible Town Planners (urban and country planners) where ever you are in the world and to the work you do shaping towns and cities. #townplanning #worldtownplanningday #rtip

📰Weekly Planning News Planning Portal have drawn on trusted sources to bring you a simple summary of this week's key planning news - keeping you informed, despite your busy schedule. This week marks an important milestone for the planning industry as we celebrate World Town Planning Day, a time to reflect on the pivotal role planning plays in shaping our communities. This year's theme, "Homes Start with Planning," emphasises how effective planning is essential for driving economic growth, providing vital community services, and creating equitable, inclusive, and sustainable spaces for all. In line with these goals, this week brought significant developments: a parliamentary inquiry into safety protocols has sparked fresh debate on planning regulations, and Slough Borough Council’s adoption of a new Simplified Planning Zone highlights efforts to streamline processes for efficient urban development. These updates reflect the momentum and evolving priorities within the planning sector. #WTPD #WorldTownPlanningDay2024 #PlanningPortal

It's World Town Planning Day today - not something I would have acknowledged in previous roles! But living and working in a bustling, developing city that has seen phenomenal growth over the last 30 years, and will continue to see it for at least the next 30, I'm amazed at the challenges, considerations and outcomes our planning team have to work through every day. These guys have to live in the future. Very few residents are thinking about the challenges that come with a growing population. There aren't many people who are designing things for use in 10, or 20 years, but that's what this team is doing every day. They're like futurologists with blueprints. There's federal, state, local regulations to consider; there are environmental and sustainable issues to consider; increasingly there are technological and social challenges to respond to, and all while making our public spaces beautiful and useable and accessible and, in the case of much of Mandurah, iconic. Thanks planning team - you do an incredible job! #thingsyoudidntknowyourcouncildoes

Town planning is more than a regulatory hurdle—it's a powerful tool to shape sustainable, thriving communities. Developers who embrace its principles unlock not just approvals, but long-term value and resilience for their projects. #TownPlanning #SustainableDevelopment #UrbanDesign #CommunityBuilding #PlanningMatters

Town planning is more than a regulatory hurdle—it's a powerful tool to shape sustainable, thriving communities. Developers who embrace its principles unlock not just approvals, but long-term value and resilience for their projects. #TownPlanning #SustainableDevelopment #UrbanDesign #CommunityBuilding #PlanningMatters

When the Death Star turns your plans upside down, remember, Town Planning is your only hope! Whether you're rebuilding a galaxy, a neighbourhood, or a home, we have the blueprints for success. May the Fourth inspire your most ambitious projects! 🛸💫 🔗 www.planninghouse.co.uk #PlanningHouse #MayThe4thBeWithYou #TownPlanning #PlanningConsultants

Massachusetts is moving ahead fast on what could be an excellent model for New York's suburban towns with rail service. Additional density near stations creates homes, shoppers, public spaces, and tax revenue. Time to revisit MTA zoning reform legislation in Albany.

We’re delighted to have submitted an outline planning application for up to 270 new homes in Ashtead, Surrey, with our Vistry Group partners. Our plans for the site will bring forward vital, high-quality homes – 108 of which will be affordable – and include a new community building and public green spaces on land south of Ermyn Way. This will be a critical development for Mole Valley District Council (MVDC), where 833 new homes a year are required to meet Government targets. Only 163 new homes were added in the year to March 2024, so our development in Ashtead will be significant, in delivering a third of MVDC’s annual target. Our proposals are in full accordance with the adopted Mole Valley Local Plan (MVLP), which allocated the site for development – making effective and efficient use of the land with new homes, gypsy and traveller pitches, community space including nursery provision and public open space. We have shaped our proposals carefully to ensure there is no significant impact on Green Belt land, and are committed to providing a high-quality, Net Zero development that reduces carbon emissions and enhances the resilience of the development to a changing climate. Discover more: https://lnkd.in/dbU-9KVq #NewHomes #Housebuilding #AffordableHomes #WatesDevelopments #Planning #NetZero #ThrivingPlaces

🌍 Celebrating World Town Planning Day  Today is World Town Planning Day, a perfect moment to appreciate the incredible contribution of planners and planning in enhancing our quality of life by shaping thriving communities, public spaces, places and economies. The NSW Government has entrusted the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure with improving housing supply and diversity, and tackling planning challenges with innovative and sustainable solutions. 🏘️ Good planning is essential for the future of NSW. It’s not just about addressing housing supply and diversity; it’s about creating vibrant, liveable cities, towns, regions, and public spaces that stand the test of time. Planners are the unsung heroes who balance economic, social, and environmental factors to design well-located, functional, and inclusive urban spaces. Their work involves: - considering infrastructure and social licence  - addressing resilience and energy needs  - assessing accessibility and community needs  - designing liveable spaces  - implementing policies  - collaborating with various stakeholders. Ensuring our planning system supports local and global investment is also a key focus. The Department is working to streamline the planning process to unlock more industrial and employment land, and drive progress in renewable energy generation with our partners. On this World Town Planning Day, I’m recognising the dedication and hard work of planners across my Department, councils and industry who are instrumental in creating a better future for all residents of NSW. 🌟 #WorldTownPlanningDay #UrbanPlanning #HousingSupply #HousingDiversity #NSWPlanning

Watertown City Council approved an ambitious plan that does more than meet the town’s MBTA Communities requirements—it redefines the future of Watertown Square. By introducing much-needed multi-family housing and reclaiming 3.3 acres of vehicle space for green areas and expanded pedestrian zones, Watertown is creating a more vibrant, walkable, and community-focused downtown. This forward-thinking approach not only addresses the demand for housing but ties it seamlessly into the urban fabric. Wider sidewalks, enhanced park spaces, and pedestrian-friendly improvements will elevate the quality of life while fostering a thriving small business ecosystem. Watertown is proving that zoning reform can be a catalyst for economic growth and environmental sustainability. This plan exemplifies the type of innovative thinking we need across Massachusetts. It moves beyond the restrictive zoning practices of the past and demonstrates how MBTA Communities compliance can spark meaningful, transformative change. Watertown is leading by example, and their work offers a roadmap for other communities striving for a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous future. Kudos to Watertown for showing us how smart development can improve our neighborhoods and set the stage for long-term success. Let’s hope other municipalities follow their lead! #RealEstateDevelopment #UrbanPlanning #SustainableGrowth #MBTACommunities