Latest news with #communityinfrastructure
The Guardian
27-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
‘No shops, no schools': homes in England built without basic amenities
Thousands of homes across England are being built without urgently needed community infrastructure, say councillors and campaigners, leaving families without access to playgrounds, schools, shops, and even doctors. Even where provision is built, it can take years to come into use, the Guardian has been told. Just outside the village of Cressing, in Essex, sits the Paddocks, a development of 225 new homes with a fenced-off playground, surrounded with signs warning 'keep out' and 'children are not allowed to play on this site'. 'It's been three years since families moved in,' saysKevin Dale, a local campaigner. 'And houses overlook an unfinished playground.' There are no shops, he reports, no nursery, and the recently planted trees have died. At Westvale Park in Surrey, councillors took the drastic decision to put a stop order on the building of thousands of homes in order to make sure that a play area and local amenities were being provided. 'They were supposed to build shops, a community centre and playgrounds once it reached 600 homes', Richard Biggs, the council leader, says. 'But we were at over 1,000 homes and there was nothing.' Steve Chambers, whose campaign group Transport for New Homes has been sending volunteers to visit housing developments around the country for several years, says: 'We are building homes on the fringes of towns in places that have very little public transport, where teenagers have nowhere to go independently. 'Our volunteers saw developments with no corner shops or cafes, no sense of space.' In the case of the Paddocks, built by Countryside Homes, which is owned by Vistry Group, it's been a long and complex process. The project started building in 2021 but subsequently the local council, Braintree, took action against Vistry and Countryside because 'it became apparent that the development was not being built in accordance with the planning permission'. A new planning application to regularise what has been built was finally approved in March this year. The council said: '[We] are continuing to work with the developer to get the open space set out, including the play area.' As well as a closed playground, Dale points out that 'there is no shop, no nursery, no pub'. The developer, Vistry, points out that under its planning agreement it does not have to build a shop, pub or nursery. In relation to the trees that have died, it says this problem is 'common in new plantings' and will be rectified at its expense. The playground is due to open this summer, Vistry Group told the Guardian, but is closed 'until surrounding landscaping is complete … [which] is subject to discharge of a planning condition which Vistry will continue to work in partnership with Braintree [local planning authority] to conclude'. The company also points out that changes after initial permission were 'standard' and that, more broadly, it works according to the local plan. It added: '[The] local plan provides the framework for how the district will develop.' At another development nearby, Silver End, a site of 350 properties built by Redrow Homes, James Abbott, a green councillor who has sat on his local planning committee for most of the past 26 years, says that pleas for a basic space for the community were turned down by the developers, despite locals offering to put in their own labour for free. 'I asked them to give us just the shell of a building on the land that had been allocated for early years care. We had local tradespeople lined up who were offering to do the rest voluntarily; Redrow turned us down.' The developer says that a building on that spot was not in the plan: 'We purchased the site with outline planning already approved, which included £2.5m funding to support local infrastructure, but did not include a community centre. We discussed potentially amending plans with the local authority, but the decision was made to proceed with the original plans. The site has protected space left on it to build early years provision.' Planning meeting notes show that Redrow offered a community hall as part of a renegotiation of the larger section 106 agreement, which the council turned down. Where does responsibility lie for the problem? Abbott believes that developers have too much freedom. 'Changes to the planning system made under both Conservative and Labour have put developers in an extremely strong position to build houses that maximise their profits and avoid building everything else.' But in some cases the developer was not required by the local authority to supply community facilities as part of its planning permission: the economics of much-needed housing do not always allow it. And in others, applications were denied by local authorities because they did not meet the requirements, but the project was then given permission on appeal to the government. There are many developers who go over and above in making sure that they are building livable, sustainable housing spaces, and who take their responsibilities extremely seriously. On Conningbrook, near Ashford in Kent, for example, Redrow is building new wetlands to protect the local special area of conservation from nitrates. As well as the £3.5m wetlands, the 725 home site will have 11 hectares of open space, including a village green and a community building. But Chambers's organisation has also seen developments where 'vast spaces on new-build estates are given up to parking … this is the reason there is no space for anything else. In its report What is being built this year, volunteers visited 40 sites across England and fund: 'Many greenfield developments are in poor locations for sustainable transport and are car dependent.' Wherever your new home is, Chambers says, 'You should be able to go out the front door, and know that there are local amenities to walk to, and 'turn up and go' public transport. The current planning system is not delivering this vision.' Some local authorities have felt the only way to get what they need for their communities is take matters into their own hands to press developers to build what is needed for communities. At Westvale Park in Surrey, a development of 1,500 homes on what were once farmers fields near Gatwick airport, Katherine, a childminder, is pushing a toddler on the swings in the recently built playground, and has nothing but good things to say about living here. 'Oh, it's lovely, absolutely great for children, there are lots of playgrounds and it's safe. It would be nice to have a shop though. At the moment you have to drive for everything.' But if Reigate and Banstead council in Surrey hadn't stepped in, there might have been nowhere to play and no hall being built. In 2023 the council called a stop to building on the site because the developers had not built the promised playgrounds and community hall. 'There were rules about what had to be built at a certain point.' says Biggs. 'So we had to put a stop order on them and that was a difficult decision.' In doing so the council was risking the wrath of families desperate to move in and pressure from four of the biggest housebuilders in the UK. 'We had families waiting to move in so I was getting unpleasant phone calls,' Biggs adds. 'The developers weren't happy.' He says planning law must ensure vital community provision gets built along with houses: 'Developers will concentrate on building houses first. So it's important that the government recognises that we have to protect green spaces.' The consortium of builders – Crest Nicholson, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and A2Dominion – was served a stop notice for 'failing to deliver important community facilities to support the development and its residents in a timely manner', and last summer an agreement was reached for the developers to put a series of bonds in place, totalling about £12m, which the council held to build the facilities if they weren't finished to a new completion date. The pause was lifted on 5 July 2024; several play areas are now open on the site but there is still no shop or an NHS GP surgery that was originally planned for. A spokesperson for the consortium said: 'The final phase of the development, the Horley Neighbourhood Centre, will feature a neighbourhood hall, retail spaces, play areas and allotments. We expect to have completed all works by the end of 2026, in accordance with the revised programme timeline agreed with the council.' A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: 'We are committed to strengthening the rules on developer contributions so that developers deliver the required infrastructure faster as we build 1.5m homes through our plan for change. 'Developers are expected to provide infrastructure where this is needed to make a development acceptable, regardless of size.' But campaigners and local councillors fear that, in the government's haste to build new homes, vital provisions may be left behind. Biggs warns that further deregulation of the planning process has to leave protection for councils to hold developers to account. 'We need to keep the power to say 'stop'. If we hadn't stepped in I think we'd still be arguing now with the developers over when we were going to get these playgrounds.'
CTV News
25-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Rural Ontario gets $20M boost for growth
Rural Ontario is getting an infusion of government money to pull from to try and ride out uncertain economic times. Rural Ontario is getting an infusion of government money to pull from to try and ride out uncertain economic times. 'We sometimes feel like we're under the shadow of the GTA and the bigger cities, and we have a lot of residents, a lot of good businesses, and all these things help just promote those and strengthen them,' said Huron County Warden, Jamie Heffer. $20 million will be available over the next two years in the newly developed Rural Ontario Development Program. Rural municipalities, along with small businesses, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations in Rural Ontario can apply, starting Tuesday. The money can be used for economic development, employee attraction and retention, community infrastructure, and/or business development. 'Whether it's a medical clinic in a small community or a business centre or a wellness initiative to help people on the streets across Ontario, this type of funding makes a difference. And it builds confidence that there's so much more opportunity to grow,' said Ontario's Minister of Rural Affairs, Lisa Thompson, who announced the funding in Clinton this morning. Rural Ontario Development Rural leaders launch the Rural Ontario Development Program in Clinton on June 24, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) While $20 million over two years may not sound like a lot of funding, the idea is to help fund a large number of small projects, rather than two or three large ones. Since 2019, the provincial government has invested $27.5 million in over 473 projects across Ontario, through the predecessor to the Rural Ontario Development Program, called the Rural Economic Development Program. 'The R.E.A.C.H Centre here in Clinton is a perfect example. What started out as a regional equine and agricultural centre, is now home to Fanshawe College. It's home to a local Montessori school. It's home to so much more. And they're looking to grow. That's exactly what we want to do,' said Thompson, who is also the MPP for Huron-Bruce. 'When we built this arena for just shy of $7 million, we got $500,000 in funding from the province. But over a period of a loan, that's a lot of money that you could be paying out in interest. So, every little bit helps,' said Municipality of Central Huron Reeve, Jim Ginn. DOWNTOWN CLINTON Downtown Clinton, Ont. on June 24, 2025. (Scott Miller/CTV News London) Rural leaders hope if the government is bombarded with applications, as they expect they will be, it will be a sign that more investments in Rural Ontario are warranted. 'I'm hoping that if uptake is very strong, that perhaps we'll be seeing, more funds in it in another two years time,' said Rural Ontario Municipal Association Chair, and Mississippi Mills Mayor, Christa Lowry. 'This is extremely important for our small, rural Ontario. The opportunity to just have the government putting this kind of dollars into strengthening our rural communities. It's just a fantastic program that we're looking forward to,' said Heffer. 'It's an incentive and it kickstarts things. We did some public fundraising here for the R.E.A.C.H Centre, and when you know the other levels of government have kicked in some money, that helps people justify putting in some of their own,' said Ginn. Applications for the Rural Ontario Development Program open today, and close on Sept. 24.
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Waverley council to review homeowners' CIL bills
Homeowners in South West Surrey who believe they have been wrongly charged for work to their houses will be able to appeal under a new Borough Council says homeowners who believe they have wrongly received community infrastructure levy (CIL) bills for work including home extensions and annexes will be able to ask to have their charges new review system comes after residents protested in April, saying they had incorrectly received bills up to £70, for the review scheme went before the council on Wednesday, 4 June ahead of a decision on 1 July, with more information set be released on 12 June. Liz Townsend, Waverley portfolio holder for planning and economic development, said: "We know that the Community Infrastructure Levy legislation has been a source of stress and concern for some of our residents who believe they have been unjustly charged and unfairly penalised by these complex and inflexible rules."This is a new process for the council, and we have taken independent legal advice to ensure our approach is both robust and fair."I want to assure them that we are absolutely committed to addressing those concerns through a fair and transparent review process."CIL is typically charged to developers as a contribution towards essential infrastructure. However a number of homeowners across Waverley have also faced the the new scheme, cases would be reviewed by someone independent from the council previously said that, in most cases, it had been correct in issuing the bills despite anger from exception, it said, was the case of Steve and Caroline Dally who were billed £70,000 for a home extension and given no opportunity to argue their will go before the council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 23 June.
Irish Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘It's ridiculous – we've nothing here': Co Kildare village to lose its last shop
'Older people and people with disabilities are so shocked, there was no forewarning really,' Johnstown resident David Stynes said as news filtered through the village that the only shop in the locality, Jordan's Centra, is due to close this week. 'It's ridiculous, we've nothing in the town,' the 65-year-old said. Located just off the N7, between Naas and Kill in Co Kildare , Johnstown, like 11 other Johnstowns in the east of the country, owes its name to the order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, said local historian Brian McCabe. 'The original church is up the way. Since the 1300s, there has been a village here,' he said. From Naas originally, Mr Stynes has lived in Johnstown for the last three years and is a wheelchair user. He was candid about how the shop closure will affect him. READ MORE 'As you can see I'm not very mobile. I'm lucky I have an electric wheelchair, but if you're sitting at home and you realise eight, nine, 10 o'clock you have run out of bread, where are you supposed to go now?' He has already experienced some of the hardship that the shop closure will bring. 'I have to rely on the buses to get to Kill or Naas. But last week I was going up the ramp and the wheelchair toppled over and I ended up in hospital, so I can't really trust getting on the buses now,' he said. Mr Stynes, like many others, is critical of the lack of communal infrastructure in the village. 'What's the town going to be left with, a Chinese restaurant?' he said. 'For older and disabled people, it's going to be a nightmare.' Amenities in the area have not kept pace with significant population growth of recent times, say villagers. Photograph: Stephen Farrell The owner of the shop, Alan Jordan, who lives locally and whose children have worked in the store, said closing had been a difficult decision that was not taken lightly. 'The business has been growing and expanding, but unfortunately the premises is no longer fit for purpose,' he said. 'It has been outgrown by the size of the community, it can't provide the range of products that the community deserves. On three occasions over the last 12 years we have tried unsuccessfully to secure alternative sites in the village.' [ Irish post office network requires annual funding of €15m to avoid 'rapid closures' Opens in new window ] One of these sites, located across the road from the shop, remains vacant. 'We would have built a 4,000 sq ft store there with 44 car-parking spaces ... But that didn't come to pass; a group of local people weren't in favour.' The Jordan Centra group is the largest Centra chain in Ireland, with stores in eight other locations in Kildare and Dublin. The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation , whose administrative offices are located above the Centra store in Johnstown, has agreed to purchase the shop, pending the owner getting planning approval for its change of use, said Deirdre Walsh, chief executive of the charity. However, some locally have queried the need for increased storage space at the shop. Katelyn Dunne (19), who lives in Johnstown and works in the local Chinese restaurant, said: 'They were saying that you can't store everything in the shop, but you don't need everything in it, just the essentials: food and bread.' For many, the impending closure of the shop is further evidence of the hollowing out of a village and its environs, which has more than 1,300 inhabitants who already have no school or post office of their own. The local community centre has been closed since 2000 as the local council did not take it over, said Johnstown resident and Fine Gael councillor, Fintan Brett. There are hopes for the reopening of the Johnstown Inn pub this year. Photograph: Stephen Farrell However, one bright spot on the horizon is that the Johnstown Inn at the top of the village, which closed four or five years ago, has new owners and may open again at the end of the year, say locals. Another possible positive development for the village may involve the vacant site across from the Centra store, Mr McCabe said. 'We have plans for the site of the old Johnstown Garden Centre, we're in consultation with the council about developing that as a community area,' he said. In response to queries, Kildare County Council said it was 'actively pursuing' the provision of a community development facility for Johnstown, but due to commercial sensitivities was unable to disclose further details. While Johnstown may be something of a quiet village, the lack of services is frustrating for its residents especially as the area has seen significant population growth in recent times. The 2022 Census said the Johnstown area had a population of 1,320, with the largest age cohort being in the 15 to 19-years-old category. Ms Dunne is fully aware of the effect the shop closure will have on her peers. 'So many people around here have jobs there and lots of lads around here do work experience there and they won't be able to do that either,' she said. Johnstown has been bypassed several times – by the Naas dual carriageway in the 1960s and more recently by the N7. Locals are now wondering whether the village will remain permanently bypassed in terms of amenities. 'For the population, it's kind of ridiculous,' resident Alan Browne (43) said.
Irish Times
03-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
‘It's ridiculous – we've nothing here': Co Kildare village to lose its last store
'Older people and people with disabilities are so shocked, there was no forewarning really,' Johnstown resident David Stynes said as news filtered through the village that the only shop in the locality, Jordan's Centra, is due to close this week. 'It's ridiculous, we've nothing in the town,' the 65-year-old said. Located just off the N7, between Naas and Kill in Co Kildare , Johnstown, like 11 other Johnstowns in the east of the country, owes its name to the order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, said local historian Brian McCabe. 'The original church is up the way. Since the 1300s, there has been a village here,' he said. From Naas originally, Mr Stynes has lived in Johnstown for the last three years and is a wheelchair user. He was candid about how the shop closure will affect him. READ MORE 'As you can see I'm not very mobile. I'm lucky I have an electric wheelchair, but if you're sitting at home and you realise eight, nine, 10 o'clock you have run out of bread, where are you supposed to go now?' He has already experienced some of the hardship that the shop closure will bring. 'I have to rely on the buses to get to Kill or Naas. But last week I was going up the ramp and the wheelchair toppled over and I ended up in hospital, so I can't really trust getting on the buses now,' he said. Mr Stynes, like many others, is critical of the lack of communal infrastructure in the village. 'What's the town going to be left with, a Chinese restaurant?' he said. 'For older and disabled people, it's going to be a nightmare.' Amenities in the area have not kept pace with significant population growth of recent times, say villagers. Photograph: Stephen Farrell The owner of the shop, Alan Jordan, who lives locally and whose children have worked in the store, said closing had been a difficult decision that was not taken lightly. 'The business has been growing and expanding, but unfortunately the premises is no longer fit for purpose,' he said. 'It has been outgrown by the size of the community, it can't provide the range of products that the community deserves. On three occasions over the last 12 years we have tried unsuccessfully to secure alternative sites in the village.' [ Irish post office network requires annual funding of €15m to avoid 'rapid closures' Opens in new window ] One of these sites, located across the road from the shop, remains vacant. 'We would have built a 4,000 sq ft store there with 44 car-parking spaces ... But that didn't come to pass; a group of local people weren't in favour.' The Jordan Centra group is the largest Centra chain in Ireland, with stores in eight other locations in Kildare and Dublin. The Jack and Jill Children's Foundation , whose administrative offices are located above the Centra store in Johnstown, has agreed to purchase the shop, pending the owner getting planning approval for its change of use, said Deirdre Walsh, chief executive of the charity. However, some locally have queried the need for increased storage space at the shop. Katelyn Dunne (19), who lives in Johnstown and works in the local Chinese restaurant, said: 'They were saying that you can't store everything in the shop, but you don't need everything in it, just the essentials: food and bread.' For many, the impending closure of the shop is further evidence of the hollowing out of a village and its environs, which has more than 1,300 inhabitants who already have no school or post office of their own. The local community centre has been closed since 2000 as the local council did not take it over, said Johnstown resident and Fine Gael councillor, Fintan Brett. There are hopes for the reopening of the Johnstown Inn pub this year. Photograph: Stephen Farrell However, one bright spot on the horizon is that the Johnstown Inn at the top of the village, which closed four or five years ago, has new owners and may open again at the end of the year, say locals. Another possible positive development for the village may involve the vacant site across from the Centra store, Mr McCabe said. 'We have plans for the site of the old Johnstown Garden Centre, we're in consultation with the council about developing that as a community area,' he said. In response to queries, Kildare County Council said it was 'actively pursuing' the provision of a community development facility for Johnstown, but due to commercial sensitivities was unable to disclose further details. While Johnstown may be something of a quiet village, the lack of services is frustrating for its residents especially as the area has seen significant population growth in recent times. The 2022 Census said the Johnstown area had a population of 1,320, with the largest age cohort being in the 15 to 19-years-old category. Ms Dunne is fully aware of the effect the shop closure will have on her peers. 'So many people around here have jobs there and lots of lads around here do work experience there and they won't be able to do that either,' she said. Johnstown has been bypassed several times – by the Naas dual carriageway in the 1960s and more recently by the N7. Locals are now wondering whether the village will remain permanently bypassed in terms of amenities. 'For the population, it's kind of ridiculous,' resident Alan Browne (43) said.
