Whilst the name of the organisation is new, Planning Inspectorate Wales’ Inspectors and support staff will transfer to Welsh Government to carry out these functions. Robust governance arrangements have been established to ensure that Inspectors continue to determine appeals and other casework with the same objectivity and impartiality as before.

Planning appeals and other casework handled by Planning Inspectorate Wales will transfer to the new service. Developments of National Significance (DNS) cases will also transfer to the new service. Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) that include locations in Wales under the Planning Act 2008 will not be affected by the separation and will continue under the Planning Inspectorate (England).

The transition will involve the transfer of existing cases to a new casework processing system and to assist the transfer of data. This will mean a pause in accepting new Wales-based cases (appeals and other cases) from 16 September.

Customers will not be able to submit Wales-based appeals or submit statements/evidence via the Appeals Casework Portal (ACP) after 16 September but the team based in the Wales office will accept appeals, other casework and submit statements/evidence by e mail and post.

Customers can contact the Wales team via post addressed to:

Or via email wales@planninginspectorate.gov.uk

If customers submit an appeal or other case to the team in the Wales office after 16 September, the date of submission will be accepted as the date the appeal is made in relation to the statutory deadlines for submitting appeals and other cases. The appeal/case will be started as soon as possible after the transfer to Planning and Environment Decisions Wales.

The team in Wales will continue working on existing cases from 16 September to 29 September. Following time to train on the new systems as part of Welsh Government, they will resume casework from 11 October when Planning and Environment Decisions Wales is fully operational.

The change of casework systems will result in a change to case reference numbers but customers will be informed of new number and where to see all the documentation at the earliest opportunity once the transfer has happened. Further details on the new Wales-based online portals will be issued soon.

For more information visit GOV.WALES and for Information about the service of the new organisation on www.gov.wales/planningappeal or www.llyw.cymru/apelcynllunio

• The onsite crew, who are constructing the £40m flood defence scheme at Radcliffe and Redvales, were notified about a child who lived near the scheme and needed a safe place to play, after being born early at 25 weeks.

• The team raised money selling football cards and through various other events to buy a swing, a play house, a slide and many other little toys

Kind-hearted staff from BAM Nuttall, the Environment Agency and Bury Council, who are currently constructing a £40m flood defence scheme in the Radcliffe and Redvales area, have brought smiles to one local child’s face this summer.

As part of their regular conversations with the community, the project team were made aware of a little boy, Quinn, who lived near the scheme and needed a helping hand. Quinn, who is two years old, suffers from Dysphasia, Dyspraxia, chronic lung disease, brain legions, autism and several other health problems after being born early, at just 25 weeks.

Deciding he needed a safe place to play, the crew put their heads together and the “Helping Quinn” project was organised. By selling football cards and through other charity events, enough money was raised to buy Quinn a swing, a play house, a slide and many other little toys.

The scheme contractors, BAM Nuttall, installed the play equipment using discount timber provided by Travis Perkins and leftover flags and equipment from the scheme itself. Many of the group donated their own time during weekends and when further scheme construction had to be briefly paused, during rainy spells.

The result is a pleasant and safe environment for Quinn to explore as he grows up.

“Helping Quinn” is not the first community fundraiser the flood scheme team have organised. Every Christmas and Easter, they have arranged toy appeals for local children and donated hundreds of presents, clothes and monetary support to Fortalice who provide assistance for women, children and families affected by domestic abuse.

Quinn’s mother, Kelsie, said:

“Quinn is absolutely ecstatic and I can’t thank the team enough for what they have done for us and Quinn. He’s even started talking better and can say the word “birdy” now that he’s able to play in a safe environment outside, so thanks to everyone.”

Rob Van, Project Manager for the Environment Agency, said:

“One of the main considerations we take into account when designing and building flood schemes, is to create a better place for people and wildlife. We believe that we should be an integral part of the community as it really is at the heart of what we are trying to achieve.

“I am delighted that Quinn is able to enjoy a safe outdoor space and I am proud of our onsite team who are working so hard to reduce flood risk and make a positive difference.”

Steve Hamer of BAM Nuttall said:

“BAM Nuttall take our stay within any community we work within as one of our highest priorities in line with our “Enhancing Lives” campaign, but more so it’s the right thing to do. So when we heard about little Quinn through a family member, we were only too happy to get involved and try to help out in any way we could.

“The guys on site started raising money immediately and the whole team rallied together to ensure we provided Quinn with the safe environment he needed to improve his standard of life and aid his recovery. I’m immensely proud that the BAM Team at Radcliffe & Redvales continue to challenge themselves in this way and others to help out where we can.”

Work on the Radcliffe and Redvales Flood Defence Scheme, which will reduce flood risk to 873 properties once completed, continues to progress. £8 million is due to be invested this year as part of £42.8m of funding into schemes in Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire in 2020/21.

This funding will complete Phase 2, which will see traditional walls and embankments along the River Irwell combined with a new wetland habitat and public amenity area, to further reduce flood risk. The scheme also incorporates work upstream on Holcombe Moor where moorland restoration is helping to reduce the flow of rainwater into the river.

The Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis MP, has undertaken her first official visit to Norway to support trade links and build cooperation on fisheries management.

The visit took place from Monday 23rd August to Wednesday 25th August and included a meeting with Odd Emil Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian Fisheries and Seafood Minister, and meetings with trade and industry stakeholders.

Norway is a key partner for the UK with a long history of cooperation across trade, science and energy.

Earlier this year, the UK and Norway signed a new Free Trade Agreement to secure a closer trading partnership. This is coupled with a Memorandum of Understanding with Norway to advance science and research cooperation on the polar region, an important milestone ahead of the COP26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year.

Fisheries Minister Victoria Prentis was keen to explore the parallels between the UK and Norway, both independent coastal states in the North Sea, as the UK begins to chart a new course and sets out a new approach to fisheries management.

Fisheries Minister, Victoria Prentis, said:

It was a pleasure to visit Norway and meet with Minister Ingebrigtsen to build on the strong partnership that exists between our nations on fisheries, trade and energy.

While we agree on many issues, there are fisheries management issues where we have differences. However, the strength of our relationship means that we can discuss areas of disagreement maturely and constructively.

The UK and Norway have much in common as independent coastal states, and with increased investment in our vibrant aquaculture industries we are both key producers of sustainable seafood.

The Minister had the opportunity during her visit to address ‘Aqua Nor’, Norway’s premier trade show for aquaculture producers and technology. She paid tribute to the links between Norwegian investment and the UK’s development of a renowned aquaculture sector – Scottish salmon, supported by this investment, is now the UK’s biggest food export.

The Minister expressed her desire to see the further sustainable growth of the sector and saw a range of technical innovations that increase the sustainability and yield of aquaculture farming.

In discussions with Minister Ingebrigtsen, the Norwegian Fisheries and Seafood Minister, the UK Minister stressed maximising the working relationship between the two nations on fisheries ahead of resuming consultations on a bilateral annual agreement for 2022 in the autumn.

Families and key workers are set to benefit from First Homes, the new flagship government housing scheme being made available today (26 August 2021) in Newton Aycliffe, Durham.

First Homes will support local people who are struggling to afford market prices in their area but want to stay in the communities where they live and work.

The Housing Secretary today visited the development in Newton Aycliffe which becomes the third early delivery project of the scheme following launches in Bolsover, Derbyshire and Cannock, Staffordshire.

The scheme offers homes at a discount of at least 30% compared to the market price.

That same percentage will then be passed on with the sale of the property to future first-time buyers, meaning homes will always be sold below market value – benefitting local families and key workers like NHS staff and forces veterans, for generations to come.

Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said:

Enabling more people to own their home is central to the mission of this government, and First Homes will offer a realistic and affordable route into home ownership for even more people.

It’s fantastic to be in Newton Aycliffe to see the new First Homes become available to local people here in the North-East. By offering the chance to buy a home at a 30% discount, we are giving local people, families and key workers like NHS staff and forces veterans, a route into home ownership where they already live.

Further sites are set to launch across the country in the coming months. A further 1,500 will join the market through a government-funded pilot launched this year, with up to 60,000 First Homes projected to be built across England and Wales by 2029-30.

Delivery of the scheme is part of the government’s wider pledge to build 300,000 new affordable and attractive homes a year and help put home ownership within reach for people across the country. This is part of the government’s promise to Build Back Better and level up opportunity across the UK.  

Major high-street lenders Lloyds and Nationwide, along with local building societies and community lenders, announced that they are offering high loan-to-value mortgages against First Homes to support the roll-out of the scheme. This follows on from the 95% mortgage guarantee scheme announced in the spring which helps first-time buyers secure a mortgage with just a 5% deposit.

It was also announced earlier in month that home builders can bid for a share of £150m to support roll-out of the new First Homes scheme helping local first-time buyers onto the housing ladder and supporting jobs across the country.

First-time buyers can find the right home ownership scheme for them, including Help to Buy: Equity Loans, via the Own Your Home website which provides a single gateway for all routes on to the housing ladder.

The website is an easy and accessible way for first-time buyers to start their home ownership journey and find the right government scheme for them.

Chief Executive of Keepmoat Homes Tim Beale said:

We are delighted to be working with our partners in government, Homes England and Durham County Council, to officially launch the First Homes scheme at our Elder Garden development.

Keepmoat Homes is one of the UK’s leading home-builders for first-time buyers so it is great to be part of this initiative which will help even more people realise their dream of owning their own home. This is a true example of how working in partnership helps to support local people and communities.

Durham County Council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, Investment and Assets, Councillor James Rowlandson said:

We are very pleased to have been involved in the First Homes pilot. This is a fantastic opportunity for first-time buyers and key workers across County Durham who aspire to own their own home.

Ensuring that our residents have access to affordable housing is a key priority for us. This pilot puts people and communities first, allowing residents to buy their dream home in their local area. Furthermore, as this discount will always be passed on, it is helping to meet the needs of future buyers in addition to those currently looking to get on the property ladder.

The Elder Gardens development is on the edge of Newton Aycliffe and will deliver 12 new First Homes on the site.

Each individual local authority can set a local connection test to determine who should be prioritised for the scheme based on the needs of their communities.