Pioneering councils are to help lead the way in bringing forward derelict and underused land for building new homes, Communities Secretary Greg Clark has announced.

73 councils across England will pilot one of the new brownfield registers, which will provide house builders with up-to-date and publicly available information on all brownfield sites available for housing locally.

The registers will help housebuilders identify suitable sites quickly, speeding up the construction of new homes.

They will also allow communities to draw attention to local sites for listing, including in some cases derelict buildings and eyesores that are primed for redevelopment and that could attract investment to the area.

The government has pledged 1 million more homes and to get planning permission in place on 90% of suitable brownfield sites for housing. Today’s move ramps up the brownfield land building commitment.

Communities Secretary Greg Clark said: “A key part of our ambition to build 1 million homes is to get work started on brownfield sites across the country – many of which are currently nothing more than blight on a community’s landscape.

“These councils will be at the forefront of these efforts to list land and encourage builders to deliver new homes for aspiring homeowners.”

Housing Minister

Cowbridge Road Railway Bridge in Bridgend is being refurbished as part of Network Rail’s £40bn Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers.

Network Rail‘s engineering ‘orange army’ will be carrying out essential repairs to address the damage caused by a number of vehicles that have struck the bridge in recent years.

They will also use the opportunity to improve the bridge’s appearance by removing the current dilapidated paint coating and giving it a fresh lick of paint.

Pedestrian access on the footpaths underneath the bridge will also be closed for the duration of the work. Network Rail will be providing a free minibus to shuttle pedestrians from one side of the bridge to the other in order to minimise disruption.

Rebecca Heeley, community relations manager for Network Rail Wales said: “The railway bridge on Cowbridge Road is getting a much needed facelift.

“We have concentrated this essential work into as short a time-frame as possible to minimise disruption to our lineside neighbours, pedestrians and road users. We would like to thank everyone in advance for their patience.”

New figures published this week show that the number of planning permissions for homes rose 6% on a year earlier, as housing measures continue to turn the market around and build more homes.

The number of major applications being processed swiftly by local authorities is also at an all-time high with a record 81% decided within the required time.

It means the number of planning permissions granted for homes in 2015 was the highest since 2007.

According to analysis of Glenigan data also published today permission was granted for 253,000 homes during 2015.

Government figures show that as well as rising numbers of planning permissions for homes, the number of permissions granted overall between October and December 2015 was 4% greater than a year earlier, with councils granting 92,000 decisions.

Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: We’ve brought the housing market back from the brink with more than 700,000 new homes delivered since 2010 and a further one million granted planning permission.

“Today’s figures are further good news for hard-working families and first time buyers wanting to achieve their dream of home ownership with constructions rates up and plenty of homes in the pipeline.”

The reformed planning system and National Planning Policy Framework cut more than 1,000 pages of guidance to around just 50, simplifying the process for obtaining planning permission whilst maintaining safeguards for the countryside.

The government is currently moving ahead with its landmark Housing and Planning Bill, which will help deliver on its ambition to build a million more homes.

Measures include:

• new affordable Starter Homes – a new legal duty will be placed on councils to guarantee the delivery of Starter Homes on all reasonably sized new development sites, and to promote the delivery of Starter Homes in their area

• permission in principle for sites identified in plans and brownfield registers – to give certainty around the sites that are suitable for housing, while protecting the green belt

• planning reforms to support small builders – requiring councils to ensure they have permission shovel ready plots to match the local demand for custom build

Figures released recently as part of the

Liverpool City Council has given the go-ahead to transform the former Royal Mail sorting office at Copperas Hill in Liverpool into a flagship building for John Moores University.

The University’s new £100 million flagship building will become the gateway to the city’s Knowledge Quarter and will bring together the University’s Mount Pleasant and Byrom Street campuses.

It will lead to the formation of a connected University campus village, with the new building becoming its central focal point and epicentre.

Sue Emms, lead architect for the development said: “Copperas Hill will be transformed into a friendly, student-centred hub providing a highly visible focus for the University.

“A walkway will encourage the public to walk through the building creating an attractive route from Lime Street to the Knowledge Quarter allowing the public to connect directly with the University.”

Building contractors, Lendlease are already on site undertaking enabling works and during May will remove the exterior of the former Royal Mail sorting office to expose the internal frame, which will then form the basis of the new structure.

Currently spread over five floors, the new building, accessible from both Copperas Hill and Brownlow Hill, will be expanded to include two mezzanine floors and use of the roof for sports and recreation. This will increase the floor area from the existing 280,000 sq.ft. to 355,000 sq.ft.

Other facilities and services will include a café and retail space, the University’s World of Work Careers Centre, Student Advice and Wellbeing, Student Administration, and LJMU’s Teaching and Learning Academy.

The development is expected to be open for use at the start of the academic year 2018.

Scotland’s island economies could benefit from up to £725 million over the next 25 years from renewables projects according to an independent report published this week.

Scottish islands have some of the best renewable energy resources in Europe – from wind, wave and tidal.

The Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland have the potential to supply up to 5 per cent of total electricity demand in the GB market by 2030.

The report, which was commissioned by the Scottish Government and published by Baringa, provides analysis of the scale of the economic opportunities available to the Scottish Islands from further deployment of renewable energy.

With appropriate investment in grid infrastructure and generating assets, renewable energy deployment on the Islands could grow rapidly by the early 2020s.

Delivering this increased level of deployment could result in:

• Economic benefits up to £725 million for the island economies, including up to £225 million in community benefits

• Local economic stimulus at peak of up to £83 million a year or an additional 5% boost to local economic output on average across the Islands

• Revenues to community owned equity totalling up to £390 million for local communities from island generation projects

• Employment boost of up to 2,000 jobs created in the peak development phase across the Islands

• Alleviation of grid constraints in the Orkney Islands alone that could increase income to existing wind developments by around £2.7 million annually

Commenting on the report from Stornoway, Minister for Business, Energy and Tourism, Fergus Ewing said: “This report confirms the potential of the vast renewable resources of our islands. They are arguably the best places in Europe to deliver renewable energy.

“The wind speeds are the strongest and they have the best potential for wave and tidal energy in the future.

“The potential considerable economic and employment benefits from renewables means it is vital for the UK Government to deliver on their commitment to the islands.”

Monmouth County Council has granted detailed planning consent to Henry Boot Developments for 8,150 sq ft of local centre retail accommodation in Monmouth.

The scheme will comprise two buildings with associated car parking. One unit totalling 4,000 sq ft has already been pre-let to The Co-operative Society and the other 4,150 sq ft retail block has received strong interest from potential occupiers.

Craig Mathias of Henry Boot Developments, Bristol, said: – “We are delighted to have secured planning permission for this scheme and look forward to delivering the new Co-operative store together with additional retail space.

“The development will bring new jobs to Monmouth and provide a boost to the local economy.”

Work is due to commence on site later this year with completion scheduled for spring 2017.

Calan Retail together with Fletcher Morgan are acting as joint letting agents for the remaining 4,150 sq ft of retail accommodation.

A new £25 million fund will provide an estimated 500 new affordable homes specifically to rural areas across Scotland.

The Rural Housing Fund will increase supply of long term affordable housing in rural areas over the next three years, by assisting the building of new homes and refurbishment of existing buildings.

The homes will contribute to the Scottish Government‘s commitment to build 50,000 new homes across Scotland over the next five years, backed by £3bn.

The fund is open to a wide range of applicants, including long-established affordable housing providers, and also community-led organisations and private landowners, enabling them to take a more active role in meeting the housing needs of their community.

In addition to providing support toward the capital costs of housing projects, the fund will offer much needed feasibility support to enable organisations to develop robust plans for their projects.

Mrs Burgess said: “I’m delighted to announce this new fund today, enabling up to an estimated 500 new homes to be built or refurbished in rural areas. Good quality, affordable housing is essential to help attract and retain people in Scotland’s remote and rural communities.

“We are committed to improving lives across all areas of Scotland by making sure homes are affordable, attractive, and warm.

“We know building affordable housing in rural areas presents different challenges compared to urban areas which is why we are ensuring this fund is open to rural interests, including community bodies, private landlords and landowners.”

This will see the demolition of the three remaining towers and the maisonette blocks to the south of Stirling Road.

A further 99 new homes will then be constructed to complete the transformation of the Queens Park neighbourhood by Spring 2018.

The maisonettes are already being demolished but the three remaining tower blocks at Elizabeth Court, Churchill Court and Walter Robinson Court will be brought down by an explosive demolition in early summer 2016.

Cllr Gillian Campbell, deputy leader of Blackpool Council, says: “The first phase of the Queens Park redevelopment has dramatically changed the area but the old buildings are still an eyesore and are standing in the way of a completely transformed estate.

“The tower blocks have been a familiar sight on Blackpool skyline for so many years that it will feel very strange once they have gone.

“As the plans progress we will keep local residents and businesses updated on the exclusion zone and make sure that everyone is fully informed ahead of the demolition.”

Lovell project manager Peter Lewis says: “Following the successful completion of the first phase of redevelopment work at Queens Park, phase 2 is now under way.

“We’re excited to be working on the next stage of this major scheme which is transforming the neighbourhood and creating modern, high-quality homes for local people.

“I’d also like to thank residents and local businesses for the patience, understanding and support which they have shown our team during the redevelopment work.”

Lovell has appointed specialist contractor Forshaw Demolition, one of the North West’s leading demolition experts, to carry out the demolition programme.

The demolition is likely to take place on a Sunday to minimise disruption and some residents will need to leave their properties while this happens.

Further information will be available in the coming months and all affected businesses and residents will receive a visit from the demolition team.

Skanska has secured work contract in the south and south-west of England by being one of the companies appointed to Hampshire County Council‘s highways construction framework.

Known as the Generation 3 framework, it is the third new contract in as many weeks for Skanska, following local authority wins in West Sussex and North Somerset.

Councillor Seán Woodward, Executive Member for Economy, Transport and Environment at Hampshire County Council, said: “Hampshire is leading the way here in establishing this framework for the whole of the South.

“Good infrastructure is key to the economic prosperity of any area, and this Generation 3 Framework will benefit not only the local economy but all who live and work in the area by ensuring resources are well used and money is well spent.”

Skanska Operations Director Gerry Curran said: “Despite an extremely competitive market, we’ve started 2016 with three excellent new contracts, all of which bolster our presence in the south and south west.”

Generation 3 is one of three innovative frameworks planned for the region and will cover major value highways works over the next four years.

Contractors appointed to the scheme will bid for projects valued between £8 million and £25 million.

The framework will be available for use by neighbouring authorities in the region, meaning that around 40 public bodies, spanning an area from Devon to Kent, can procure highways work faster and more cost effectively.

Three innovative heating projects have been awarded £1.75 million by the Scottish Government.

The schemes, in Shetland, Clydebank and Glasgow, will use water source heat pump technology to extract heat from water – even on the coldest days – to supply low carbon heat efficiently.

These are:

• A £1.6 million loan for a large scale sea-water source heat pump scheme in Lerwick, to allow 225 more households to join the existing heat network

• Funding of £75,000 for the Queens Quay Development on the site of the former John Brown Shipyard, to develop an investment prospectus for a district heating network using a water source heat pump in the River Clyde basin

• Funding of £75,000 for the University of Glasgow Western Campus to develop an investment grade proposal to install a water source heat pump in the River Kelvin to ensure the existing district heating network can service new buildings planned for the site of the former Western Infirmary hospital.

Energy Minister Fergus Ewing made the announcement at the Scottish Renewables annual conference in Edinburgh today.

Mr Ewing said:“Supporting the development of district heating and wider low carbon technologies will help maximise the economic opportunities from Scotland’s low carbon sector.

“Heat is estimated to account for over half of Scotland’s total energy use and is responsible for nearly half of Scotland’s greenhouse gas emissions, so the imperative to take action is very clear.”