Provides signposting to key web sites and documents giving practice advice and supporting information on a variety of planning topics. Whilst the topics covered are not exhaustive, this page is constantly updated and new items added. Scroll down to browse the entries. 

Other information sources available from the RTPI are: 

• Library and Information Service
• Effective Practice in Spatial Planning Skills List
• Planning Matters
• Planning Resource

To report broken links or suggest items for inclusion, please email practice@rtpi.org.uk

Signpost Index                   

• Ageing Population and Extra Care Housing
• Children and Young People
• Climate Change
• Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
• Community Involvement
• Conservation
• Credit Crunch
• Culture and Sport
• Development Management
• Disabled Access and Inclusive Environments
• Economy
• Education
• Energy
• Enforcement
• Elected Members
• Equality and Diversity
• Ethnic Minorities
• Flooding and Drainage
• Gender
• Governance
• Gypsy and Traveller Communities
• Health and Spatial Planning
• Housing
• Local Development Frameworks
• Minerals and Waste
• Natural Environment
• Population and Migration
• Public Realm
• Regeneration
• Rural Planning
• Sport and Culture
• Sustainable Communities
• Tourism
• Transport and Infrastructure
• Urban Design

Ageing Population and Extra Care Housing  

Title: Extra care housing (GPN8)
Publisher: RTPI and Department of Health
Date: October 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Guidance to support the planning response to the growing demand for a broad range of extra care housing, as part of meeting the housing needs of an ageing population in the UK.

Title: Home for our old age: independent living by design
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: September 2009
Resource: Case studies
Description: Features 10 case studies of housing schemes for older people, which provide inventive design and management solutions linking home and social care.

Title: Delivering lifetime homes, lifetime neighbourhoods: a national strategy for housing in an ageing society
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Strategy
Description: Outlines plans for making sure that there is enough appropriate housing available in future to relieve the forecasted unsustainable pressures on homes, health and social care services.

Title: Raising the stakes: promoting extra care housing
Publisher: Housing Corporation
Date: April 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Research report and guidance
Description: Results of a project aimed to clarify what comprises ‘extra care’ for older people and to establish shared standards for provision. A commonly agreed definition of extra care and standards could not be agreed. Outputs do include a quality of information (QI) mark, that encourage providers to give better information on their facilities, services, residents, ethos and outcome measures.

Title: Housing LIN
Publisher: Department of Health
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website containing a wealth of guidance and information
Description: Housing LIN is the national network for promoting new ideas and supporting change in the delivery of housing, care and support services for older and vulnerable adults, including people with disabilities and long term conditions.

Title: Growing old in a changing climate: meeting the challenges of an ageing population and climate change
Publisher: Stockholm Environment Institute
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Workshop report
Description: Sets out a number of recommendations including climate change proofing the homes of older people and improving transport for older people.

Title: Older people and wellbeing
Publisher: Institute for Public Policy Research
Date: July 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Describes some of the key social trends in the UK and assesses how they may be impacting on older people and their wellbeing.

Title: Extra care housing: what is it?
Publisher: Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP)
Date: Revised 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Factsheet
Description: Gives essential basic information, explains the various forms extra care housing takes and describes key ingredients and central principles.

Title: Planning for continuing care retirement communities: issues and good practice
Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2006
Audience: General
Resource: Summary of full report
Description: Provides analysis of current and emerging policy and practice. It is intended to provide practical assistance to those involved in the planning and development process.

Title: Older people’s housing strategies: key policy drivers
Publisher: Housing and older people development group
Date: 2006
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Explores the relationship between the housing agenda and the agenda for older age. It looks at the ways in which gaps in policy at the national level are affecting regional strategies and local policies and implementation.

Title: Models of extra care and retirement communities
Publisher: Care Services Improvement Partnership (CSIP)
Date: 2004
Audience: General
Resource: Factsheet
Description: An explanation of the different types of retirement community and examples of how key decisions about the choice of model are made.

Title: Extra care housing toolkit
Publisher: Care Services Improvement Partnership (Department of Health)
Date: 2006
Audience: Housing, care and planning professionals
Resource: Toolkit
Description: Assists in the development of extra care housing in the context of the wider accommodation and service needs of older people. It offers a structured approach to developing policy and locally based initiatives and a variety of tools designed to facilitate thinking about extra care.

Title: Action plan: older people’s housing
Publisher: Chartered Institute of Housing Scotland
Date: June 2009
Audience:General - Scotland
Resource: Guidance
Description: Action Plan focusing on older people’s housing in Scotland, exploring the policy and practice position and the pivotal role it will have in helping to deliver support to meet needs of the rapidly ageing population.

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Children and Young People

Title: Homes fit for families: an evidence review
Publisher: Family and Parenting Institute
Date: 2008
Audience: Policy makers
Resource: Policy discussion paper
Description: Explores how children and families are affected by their physical environment, both in their home and their immediate neighbourhood. It suggests policy solutions to ensure housing is fit for families.

Title: Design for play: a guide to creating successful play spaces
Publisher: Every Child Matters
Date: September 2008
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Aims to support good practice in the development and improvement of public play space. It is not intended as a strict set of criteria for the capital programme, but to present guiding principles, suggested approaches and to inspire innovative and creative ideas.

Title: Every child’s future matters
Publisher: Sustainable Development Commission
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Explores the influence of the environment on children's wellbeing and health.

Title: Designing and planning for play
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: October 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance and case studies
Description: Aims to encourage local authorities to seize the opportunity offered by the governments £235 million investment to create spaces that allow children to use their imagination, with natural play design.

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Climate Change

Title: Reducing carbon: Daneville Estate, Liverpool
Homes and Communities Academy
Date: May 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study
Description: Winner of the HCA 2009 award for reducing carbon successfully demonstrates how the regeneration of a run down housing estate can also contribute to carbon reduction.

Title: Low carbon development: Cross Street South, Wolverhampton
Publisher: Homes and Communities Academy
Date: May 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study
Description: Winner of the HCA 2009 award for low carbon development successfully demonstrates how a visually attractive development can also be an exemplar of low carbon development in the UK.

Title: Code for sustainable homes
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: May 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Sets out the new requirements for the national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes, which comes into effect on the 22 June 2009. A summary of changes between the October 2008 version and the May 2009 version is available.

Title: Climate change within local development frameworks
Publisher: South-East Regional Assembly
Date: June 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Designed to assist planners through the LDF process. It will help planners utilise existing sources of information and guidance, identify partners for engagement, understand and interpret policy, develop their LDF evidence base to establish an understanding of the main climate change issues and consider how their area should mitigate and adapt to climate change in the future. Includes technical guidance and case studies.

Title: Demystifying climate change
Publisher: Homes and Communities Academy
Date: Launched January 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Provides information to improve understanding on what the climate change debate means for communities; how to embed climate change into long-term plans; and how to reduce emissions through projects.

Title: Planning and climate change
Publisher: Homes and Communities Academy and Planning Advisory Service
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Practice guidance to support the planning and climate change PPS. It focuses on the ‘how to’ and does not set or interpret policy. Jointly hosted by PAS and HCA it is intended to develop into a resource similar to the plan-making manual.

Title: Behind the green façade: is the UK development industry really embracing sustainability?
Publisher: Taylor Wessing
Date: May 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Sets out the results of a sustainability survey that looked at the development industry attitudes and awareness of sustainability and the green agenda.

Title: Sustainable cities
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Website
Description: Cuts through the complexities of the climate change debate to provide expert advice, offer clear priorities for action and describe good practice in sustainable urban design and management. Arranged around seven spatial scales, from individual building to regional, which are systematically linked with six critical sustainability themes – energy, waste, water, transport, green infrastructure and public space. Includes case studies.

Title: From Kyoto to Kettering, Copenhagen to Croydon: local government’s manifesto for building low-carbon communities
Publisher: Local Government Association
Date: July 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Strategy
Description: Manifesto for building low-carbon communities asserts that local authorities have a pivotal role in tackling climate change. It sets out the framework and specific policies needed to enable local government to develop low carbon communities.

Adapting public space to climate change
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: July 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Briefing
Description: Sets out the lessons learned in the UK and around the world from using public spaces to adapt to climate change.

Title: UK Climate Projections 2009
Publisher: UK Climate Projections 2009
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Projection
Description: UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) gives climate information for the UK up to the end of this century. It gives projections of future climate changes based on simulations from climate models. It shows high, medium and low greenhouse gas scenarios.

Title: Green and blue space adaptation for urban areas and eco towns (GRaBS) project
Publisher: Green and blue space adaptation for urban areas and eco towns (GRaBS) project
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Pan-European network of organisations involved in integrating climate change adaptation into regional planning and development.

Title: The natural fix? the role of ecosystems in climate mitigation
Publisher: United Nations Environment Programme
Date: June 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Rapid response assessment indicates that boosting investments in conservation, restoration and management of natural ecosystems will provide the most effective way to slow down climate change and accelerate sustainable development.

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Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

Title: The community infrastructure levy
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: August 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Gives details about the new charge which local authorities in England and Wales will be empowered, but not required, to charge on most types of new development in their area. CIL charges will be based on simple formulae, which relate the size of the charge to the size and character of the development paying it.

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Community Involvement

Title: Your place, your future RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Plymouth City Council
Date: 2007
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Case study – community consultation
Description: Preparation of the cities sustainable neighbourhood’s development plan document included extensive community involvement, through site visits, community planning workshops, exhibitions and online bulletin boards, reversing the trend for people to get involved at the end of the planning process.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Effective community involvement and consultation:GPN1
Publisher: RTPI
Date: Revised 2007
Audience: Planners, Planning Aid volunteers, other planning stakeholders
Resource: Good practice guide
Description: Provides a corps of best practice on key aspects of community involvement, in an easy to absorb format. Plus four case studies.

Title: Communityplanning.net
Publisher: RTPI and Nick Waites Associates
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Comprehensive web based resource outlining general principles, methods, scenarios and case studies relating to all aspects of community planning.

Title: A guide to the use of mediation in the planning system in Scotland
Publisher: Scottish Government
Date: March 2009
Audience: General, Scotland
Resource: Guidance
Description: Designed to help planning authorities, developers, statutory consultees, communities and third parties understand how mediation can be used to build consensus on difficult issues and enhance the planning process.

Title: VOiCE: visioning outcomes in community engagement
Publisher: Scottish Community Development Centre
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Toolkit
Description: Database planning and recording tool designed to assist in designing and delivering effective community engagement. It provides support to plan community engagement and service user participation, conduct it effectively, monitor and record the process and evaluate the outcomes.

Title: Civic pioneers case study review
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: December 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case study review
Description: Presents case studies of twelve funded community empowerment projects, together with a simple analysis of the lessons learned from these experiences.

Title: Evidence through engagement: creating sustainable neighbourhoods in Plymouth
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case study
Description: Looks at how Plymouth Council used innovative methods to consult the local community on planning developments.

Title: Guidance on building a local sense of belonging
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: January 2009
Audience: Local authorities and voluntary sector groups
Resource: Guidance
Description: Working with the Citizenship Foundation this guidance outlines ways to encourage a sense of belonging as a way of promoting improved community cohesion.

Title: The no pain guide to gain: a community guide to planning gain
Publisher: The Ethical Property Foundation
Date: July 2008
Audience: Community groups/elected members
Resource: Introductory guide
Description: Jargon-free, practical community guide to planning obligations which answers frequently asked questions on planning obligations, provides a checklist of actions to take to maximise community impact at each stage of a planning application, and lists key contacts who can help deliver community gains through planning obligations.

Title: Place survey 2008-09 manual 

Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: 2008
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Manual
Description: Sets out the common standards for local authorities and their contractors conducting the new 2008-09 Place Survey, a tool available to councils and their partners to collect and understand the views of local people.

Title: Community Places
Publisher: Community Places
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General – Northern Ireland
Resource: Website
Description: Voluntary organisation providing advice on planning issues to disadvantaged communities and individuals. Useful publications include guide to the regional development strategy and guide to planning.

Title: The duty to involve: making it work
Publisher: Community Development Foundation
Date: 2009
Audience General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Demonstrates how community development can help to make the most of the duty to involve. Contains ideas for reinvigorating local democracy and improving the quality of decision making, involving local people in a meaningful way.

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Conservation

Title: Heritage and archaeology on the Channel tunnel rail link RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Channel Tunnel Rail Link Project
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Case study - heritage
Description: The environmental statement was used to define the risks for each site and any investigatory work. There was continuous dialogue with partners, with the aim of securing buildings and sites in situ. The results of the heritage and archaeological work were made widely available, improving communication.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Constructive conservation in practice
Publisher: English Heritage
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Information resource
Description: Constructive conservation is a positive and collaborative approach to conservation that focuses on actively managing change. This second volume of exemplary conservation-led projects aims to stimulate greater awareness of constructive conservation and to increase confidence in the use of historic places to support regeneration, place-making and community development.

Title: Local area agreements and the historic environment
Publisher: English Heritage
Date: July 2008
Audience: Local authorities and regional planning bodies
Resource: Guidance
Description: Uses case studies to set out the ways the historic environment can contribute to the development of local area agreements and aims to ensure the potential of the historic environment is maximised to the benefit of everyone.

Title: Enabling development and the conservation of significant places
Publisher: English Heritage
Date: August 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Policy and guidance
Description: The second edition of this guidance concentrates on those areas of practice which are particular to enabling development (and by extension other proposals where financial viability is a key issue), rather than common to most proposals affecting significant places, on which other guidance is now available.

Title: Heritage at risk register
Publisher: English Heritage
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Database
Description: Searchable list of all buildings, monuments, battlefields, parks and gardens and shipwrecks at risk.

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Credit Crunch 

Title: Regeneration in a downturn: what needs to change?
Publisher: The Smith Institute
Date: June 2009
Audience: Essay collection
Resource: Report
Description: Includes contributions from Michael Parkinson, Bob Kerslake, Liz Peace, and Tom Bloxham that give unique perspectives on the effects of the downturn plus recommendations on the future direction of regeneration policy, along with guidance on what needs to change in order to prepare for the upturn.

Title: Letter to chief planning officers: planning for housing and economic recovery
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: May 2009
Audience: Local planning officers
Resource: Circular
Description: Outlines what CLG s doing to help planning authorities to respond to the economic downturn. This letter sets out a range of measures building on the housing stimulus package announced in the Budget.

Title: Investment and planning obligations: responding to the downturn
Publisher: Homes and Communities Academy
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Based on existing policy guidance, gives recommendations for maintaining more affordable housing from planning permissions and associated S106 obligations alongside HCA investment.

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Culture and Sport  

Title: Other people’s photographs, Folkestone RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Strange Cargo
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Case study, public art project
Description: Ambitious and interactive project involved borrowing 1650 photographs from residents representing every street in Folkestone, Kent. A photograph has been reproduced as a permanent sign for each street. Designed to enhance the redevelopment of the town centre and help create a more sustainable community.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Shaping places through sport
Publisher: Sport England
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Five themed guides which aim to show how local authorities and their partners can use sport to build stronger, healthier, sustainable and more prosperous communities. Intended to help policymakers and practitioners put sport at the heart of their broad range of work in local areas.

Title: The culture and sport toolkit
Publisher: Living Places
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Toolkit
Description: A practical source of information and advice bringing together a combination of existing and new tools to incorporate planning for culture and sport into new and existing developments.

Title: Artists and places: engaging creative minds in regeneration
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: April 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Provides practical advice for clients and developers, drawing together the lessons learnt from PROJECT in which artists were brought into the development process. Includes essays, and six case studies demonstrate how the process works.

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Development Management 

Title: Atlas (Advisory Team for Large Scale Applications)
Publisher: Atlas
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Best practice website
Description: Aims to guide stakeholders through the planning process in relation to large, complex or strategic development projects. The guide is being published as an interactive information resource that references to emerging and established good practice, is flexible enough to be applied in a range of different circumstances, and can learn from the knowledge and experience of users.

Title: Planning performance agreements
Publisher: Atlas
Date: April 2008
Audience: Local planning authorities and developers
Resource: Background information and guidance note
Description: PPA’s are about improving the quality of planning applications and the decision making process of large scale, complex developments through collaboration. The site gives information on the role of PPA’s guidance, site specific examples and feedback from case studies.

Title: Killian Pretty review: final report
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: November 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Review report
Description: Outcome of detailed review of development management. Examines case studies for a range of different sectors to identify reasons for delays in decisions, and making recommendations for improvements.

Title: Making a planning application: a guide for sports clubs
Publisher: Sport England
Date: July 2009
Audience: Sports clubs/general public
Resource: Guidance
Description: A step-by-step guide to help sports clubs apply and obtain planning permission for new sports facilities. The guide aims to help sports clubs better understand the planning application process, from the early consideration of options through to implementing the planning permission.

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Disabled Access and Inclusive Environments

Title: The Access Association
Publisher: The Access Association
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Membership organisation for access officer which aims to improve access and facilities for disabled people and consequently for all people who would benefit from an accessible environment.

Title: Centre for Accessible Environments
Publisher: Centre for Accessible Environments
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Membership organisation providing advice and information on inclusive design and access to the built environment for disabled and older people.

Title: The principles of inclusive design (they include you)
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: 2006
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Sets out the five key principles at the heart of good design that is about more than meeting the needs of disabled people.

Title: Access all areas: planning for an inclusive environment
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Case studies
Description: Gives practical examples of how some councils are working to achieve inclusive and accessible environments by incorporating the philosophy and principles of inclusive design into their policies and supplementary planning documents and into their decision making.

Title: Disability equality duty
Publisher: Commission for Equalities and Human Rights
Date: 2006
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Gives information relating to the duty imposed on public authorities by the disability equality duty.

Title: Office for Disability Issues
Publisher: Office for Disability Issues
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Acts as a champion for disabled people within Government. Website provides details on research and projects and publications.

Title: Planning and access for disabled people: a good practice guide
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: 2003
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Explains the relevant legislation and policy frameworks, shows how local planning authorities can put in place appropriate planning policies and development control processes and suggests how they can be implemented and enforced effectively.

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Economy 

Title: The credit crunch and regeneration
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: January 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Assesses what the effect of the economic downturn over the past year has been, what might happen next, and what the key implications are for partners involved in regeneration.

Title: Cities outlook 2008
Publisher: Centre for Cities
Date: January 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Data report
Description: Looks back at the recent economic performance of UK cities as well as the main policy milestones. It looks at the prospects for 2009 and beyond, revealing the cities most exposed to recession; and least well placed to ride out job losses and business closures over the coming months.

Title: Regional development agency impact evaluation
Publisher: Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Date: March 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Evaluation
Description: Provides an independent assessment of the impact of the spending by regional development agencies and concludes that all RDAs have generated regional economic benefits which exceed their costs.

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Education

Title: Hambleton: taking planning out of policy and into the community
RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Hambleton District Council
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study – teaching resource
Description: Educational pack which supports citizenship key stages 3 and 4 of the national curriculum. It works in a global to local perspective, tackling all of the key issues of global sustainability and working back to a ‘which means that within Hambleton’ point, and within the perspective of the students own timeline.
RTPI Judges report available.

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Elected Members

Title: Foundations for the future: a councillor’s guide to strategic housing

Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: 2008
Audience: Elected members
Resource: Guide
Description: Gives information about the main ways that councillors can affect housing policy by examining the foundations of strategic housing and how regional housing assessments and strategies fit in with local needs.

Title: Councillor’s guide to creating quality public spaces
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: 2008
Audience: Elected members and wider audience
Resource: Guidance
Description: Provides examples of initiatives councillors can take to create quality public places. It reflects the new powers and responsibilities councillors have and supports them in taking effective action on cleaner, safer, greener and quality of life issues.

Title: Positive engagement: a guide for planning councillors
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: Updated 2008
Audience: Elected members
Resource: Guidance
Description: A pocket guide for planning councillors to help them navigate the probity risks in developer meetings and pre-application discussions.

Title: Neighbourhood renewal and social inclusion: a councillor's guide
Publisher: IdeA
Date: 2006
Audience: Elected members
Resource: Guidance
Description: Provides a common understanding for all councillors of what neighbourhood renewal means and why it is important in creating sustainable communities.

Title: The handy guide to planning
Publisher: Urban Forum and RTPI
Date: 2006
Audience: Elected members, planning stakeholders and the general public
Resource: Overview guide
Description: Explains what planning means, then goes on to give an overview of the planning system at the national, regional and local levels.

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Energy

Title: Small-scale wind energy: policy insights and practical guidance
Publisher: Carbon Trust
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Policy and guidance
Description: The Carbon Trust has commissioned research from the Met Office and Entec which provides policy insights, practical guidance and technical information on small scale wind energy. 

Title: Sustainable energy and biodiversity report RTPI Planning Award 2008 Commendation
Publisher: London Borough Tower Hamlets
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case study,
Description: Study investigating the potential for renewable energy and biodiversity enhancement opportunities, acts as a robust evidence base for the borough’s LDF.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Renewable energy strategy
Publisher: Department of Energy and Climate Change
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Strategy
Description: Sets out how everyone has a role to play in promoting renewable energy. It is supported by a suite of impact assessments and supporting analytical consultancy reports.

Title: Planning Renewables
Publisher: Planning Renewables
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Website
Description: Provides the most up to date and useful information for local authorities; along with support and guidance when dealing with planning applications for renewable energy developments. Includes technical notes, case studies and links to expert support.

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Enforcement 

Title: Unlawful advertising and fly-posting databaseRTPI Planning Awards 2008 Commendation
Publisher: Planning Portal
Date: Launched 2007
Audience: Local authority enforcement officers
Resource: Online database
Description: Allows enforcement officers to input and access details of prosecutions against companies who have illegally displayed advertisements alongside highways and/or flyposted. It can help officers build a case for prosecution. Access is restricted to nominated officers.

RTPI Judges report available.

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Equality and Diversity

Title: Equality and Human Rights Commission
Publisher: Equality and Human Rights Commission
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Brings together the responsibilities of the Equal Opportunities Commission, the Commission for Racial Equality, and the Disability Rights Commission, with other aspects of equality; age, sexual orientation and religion or belief, as well as human rights. 

Title: Diversity and Equality in planning: a good practice guide
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: 2005
Audience: General
Resource: Good practice
Description: Aims to hows how planners can take account of the planning needs of a diverse population in their policies and practices.

Title: Equality and diversity: improving planning outcomes for the whole of the community
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: November 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case studies
Description: Focuses on how planners can routinely and systematically consider the impact of the plans they make to provide accessible services and create inclusive environments to meet the needs and aspirations of diverse communities in their local area.

Title: Inclusion by design: equality, diversity and the built environment
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: November 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Briefing note with case studies
Description: Examines a broad meaning of inclusion, not just access and sets out CABE’s position on equality, diversity and the built environment. Provides examples demonstrating how good design can help create places that work for everyone.

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Ethnic Minorities

Title: Guidance for local authorities on translation of publications
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: 2007
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Practical advice on translating material, including the legal requirements, a checklist and examples of good practice. Published in response to the Commission on Integration and Cohesion report 'Our Shared Future'.

Title: Face to face and side by side: a framework for partnership in our multi faith society
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: July 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Strategy
Description: Sets out how faith communities, Government and wider society can work together to encourage and enable greater local activity which brings people with different religions and beliefs together. Contains examples of effective practice, practical suggestions for communities and local authorities and links to further sources of support and guidance.

Title: The housing and neighbourhood impact of Britain’s changing ethnic mix
Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: October 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Evidence review
Description: Summarises evidence, largely from Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded studies on the nature and impact of Britain’s changing ethnic mix; and reviews recent policy responses and lessons from the studies for Government policy.

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Flooding and Drainage

Title: Flood risk management
Publisher: Entec
Date: Launched 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Pulls together news, opinion and useful resources, and acts as a space for developing debate on the future of flood risk, and encourages participation by professionals.

Title: The Pitt review: lessons learnt from the 2007 floods
Publisher: Cabinet Office
Date: June 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Review final report
Description: Contains 92 recommendations. Including “greater leadership by local authorities on flooding and local drainage, including mapping of drainage systems and audit of local water assets to assess flood risk and clarify responsibilities for maintenance” and a “duty on all relevant organisations to share information and co-operate with the Environment Agency and local authorities in managing flood risk.

Title: Using science to create a better place: cost-benefit of SUDS retrofit in urban areas
Publisher: Environment Agency
Date: November 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Sets out the importance of sustainable drainage systems in developed areas and addresses issues such as cost and adoption as well as looking at the benefits of sustainable drainage systems.

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Gender

Title: Gendersite
Publisher: Women's Design Service
Date: Launched 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Online database
Description: Definitive online resource for gender and the built environment.

Title: Government Equalities Office
Publisher: Government Equalities Office
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Government department website
Description: Responsible for the Government’s overall strategy on equality, (including a new equality bill and public service agreement) as well as leading on women’s issues across Government, and sponsoring the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Women’s National Commission.

Title: Gender and spatial planning (GPN7)
Publisher: RTPI
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Good practice
Description: Examines definitions of equality, the legal responsibilities of planners and the key gender issues affecting spatial planning.

Title: Gender Equality Duty
Publisher: Equality and Human Rights Commission
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: A number of publications are available from the Commission’s website explaining the duty placed on public authorities (which include local planning authorities) by the introduction of the Gender Equality Duty in 2007.

Title: Planning and the gender equality duty: why does gender matter?
Publisher: People, place and policy online
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Article
Description: Outlines the gender equality duty and draws on ongoing research to reflect on some examples where gender is being taken into account in planning policy and practice.

Return to signpost index.

Governance 

Title: Planning at the heart of local government
Publisher: Local Government Association
Date: 2008
Audience: Senior local government officers
Resource: Information note
Description: Shows senior local government officers how to use the planning service to “bring more expertise to bear on top priorities; increase investment in local communities; make the most of strategies; work with communities and partners more cost effectively; and improve performance and raise their profile.

Title: Northumberland planning service
RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Commendation
Publisher: Northumberland Planning Officers’ Group
Date: 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Case study
Description: The reorganisation of the county and six district councils into a single unitary authority in 2009 gave the once in a lifetime opportunity to design and implement a state of the art planning service, which may be a model for future reorganisations. A detailed timetable for work, which will continue beyond April 2009, has been produced.
RTPI Judges report available.

Return to signpost index.

Gypsy and Traveller Communities

Title: Planning for Gypsies and Travellers (GPN4)
Publisher: RTPI
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Good practice note
Description: A series of four good practice notes advising on communication, consultation and participation, accommodation needs assessment, plan policy, allocation, development management and enforcement.

Title: Progress report on Gypsy and Traveller policy
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: July 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Policy
Description: Provides an overview of Government policy on increasing site provision and measures available to address unauthorised encampment and development.

Title: Somewhere to live: a short film about meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: East of England Regional Assembly, 4NW, South East England Regional Assembly and West Midlands Regional Assembly
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Case study - film
Description: Aims to improve awareness of the lifestyle/culture and issues connected with Gypsy and Traveller communities, to demonstrate that tensions with the settled community can be resolved and to explain the RSS consultation process.

RTPI Judges report is available. 

Title: Designing Gypsy and Traveller Sites: good practice guide
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: May 2008
Audience: Potential developers and site owners
Resource: Good practice guide
Description: Provides an understanding of the design features needed to help ensure a site is successful, easy to manage, including site location, layout, size and the services and facilities needed.

Title: Local authorities and Gypsies and Travellers: a guide to responsibilities and powers
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: May 2007
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Good practice guide
Description: Outlines the issues surrounding the shortage of provision of sites for Gypsies and Travellers and the responsibilities and powers of local authorities.

Title: Gypsies and Travellers Unit
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Provides information on what the Government is doing to ensure that there is a balanced approach to tackling the problems associated with unauthorised sites and promotes understanding of why site provision must go hand in hand with enforcement.

Title: Circular 01/06 (ODPM): planning for gypsy and traveller caravan sites
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: February 2006
Audience: Local authorities and Gypsy and Traveller groups
Resource: Government circular
Description: Provides guidance on the planning aspects of finding sites for Gypsies and Travellers and how local authorities and Gypsies and Travellers can work together to achieve that aim.

Title: National Association of Gypsy and Traveller Officers (NAGTO)
Publisher: NAGTO
Date: Established 1997
Audience: Local authority gypsy liaison officers ("GLOs")
Resource: Website for member organisation
Description: Aims to support local authority officers by disseminating knowledge, compare best practice and improve standards of service.

Return to signpost index.

Health and Spatial Planning

Briefing/Evidence

Case Studies

Guidance and Manuals

Networks/Programmes

Research

Strategies

Briefing/Evidence 

Title: A guide to town planning for NHS staff
Publisher: Department of Health
Date: 2007
Audience: NHS chief executives, directors of public health and directors of estates and facilities
Resource: Introductory guide
Description: Aims to outline the English planning system, explain the correlation between planning and health and encourage NHS organisations to get involved in the planning process.

Title: A guide to the NHS for local planning authorities
Publisher: Department of Health
Date: 2007
Audience: Local authority planners
Resource: Introductory guide
Description: Outlines the key principles of public health and highlights how planning authorities can interact with NHS organisations to deliver sustainable services.

Title: Health, place and nature: how outdoor environments influence health and wellbeing
Publisher: Sustainable Development Commission
Date: March 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Summary of evidence outlining how outdoor environments influence health and wellbeing.

Title: Health inequalities
Publisher: House of Commons Health Select Committee
Date: March 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Report of evidence. The section on built environment (pp 105 onwards) concludes that health must be a primary consideration in planning decisions and recommends the need for a planning policy statement on health.

Title: The health impact of climate change: promoting sustainable communities
Publisher: Department of Health
Date: April 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance summary
Description: Briefly summarises the potential impact of climate change on health in the UK.

Case studies 

Title: Prevention is still better cure: planning for healthy communities
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: November 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Best practice case studies
Description: Reports on successful initiatives councils are taking in creating health-promoting environments and contributing to the provision of health facilities.

Title: Trees and woodlands: nature’s health service
Publisher: Forestry Commission
Date: 2005
Audience: Health and environment professionals
Resource: Report and case studies
Description: Provides information and evidence supporting the idea that the use and enjoyment of woodlands and green spaces improves people’s overall health and wellbeing.

Title: Designed with care: design and neighbourhood healthcare buildings
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and Built Environment
Date: 2006
Audience: General
Resource: Case study report
Description: Presents 15 case studies of new healthcare buildings that have challenged existing ways of working; responded to the needs of their neighbourhood; created a human and reassuring environment; used space and light to create a calming atmosphere and developed an inclusive design ethos from the outset.

Title: Pioneering partnerships in Plymouth
Publisher: I&DeA
Date: 2008
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Case study
Description: Showcasing the benefits of partnership working between the local planning authority and primary care trust. Includes links to Plymouth City Council documents.

Title: Local authority and primary care partnerships
Publisher: IDeA Healthy Communities Programme
Date: 2007
Audience: Local authorities and PCT’s
Resource: Case studies
Description: outlines the individual experiences, good and bad, of partnership working between 14 local authorities and primary care trusts.

Title: Joint strategic needs assessment: progress so far
Publisher: IDeA Healthy Communities Programme
Date: April 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Local authorities and primary care trusts have responsibility identifying local needs through the joint strategic needs assessment process. This document uses case studies to examine the practical issues involved in preparing a JSNA and the tactical actions that have been taken to deal with them.

Guidance and Manuals 

Title: Delivering healthy communities: GPN5
Publisher: RTPI
Date: June 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Highlights the crucial role planning has to play in developing sustainable and healthy communities. Includes summaries of the key issues and provides recommendations for improved ways of working.

Title: Review package for health impact assessment reports
Publisher: HIA Gateway, West Midlands Public Health Observatory
Date: June 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Enables a commissioner or reviewer of an HIA report to reach an opinion as to the quality of the completed report in a simple, quick and systematic manner. Focuses on reports submitted as evidence with an application for development consent, but may be applicable to a wider range of HIAs.
Title: Health and planning toolkit RTPI Planning Awards 2007 Winner
Publisher: NHS London Healthy Urban Development Unit (HUDU)
Date: 2007
Audience: Greater London local planning authorities and primary care trusts
Resource: Online toolkit
Description: Sets out a systematic approach to building the relationship between primary care trusts and local planning authorities. It acts as a handbook on how the local development framework and planning application processes should address health.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Health inequalities intervention tool
Publisher: London Health Observatory
Date: June 2008
Audience: Primary care trusts and local authorities
Resource: Information source and health inequalities analysis
Description: Provides information on life expectancy and analysis of causes of death; and allows local authorities to estimate the effect on their life expectancy if certain interventions are increased.

Title: Building in health
Publisher: Milton Keynes South Midlands Health and Social Care Group
Date: 2006
Audience: General
Resource: Checklist
Description: A checklist and guide to developing healthy sustainable communities.

Title: Health impact assessment toolkit for cities
Publisher: World Health Organisation WHO (Europe)
Date: 2005
Audience: Policy makers
Resource: Toolkit and supporting information
Description: Explains the background to and different forms of impact assessment processes, along with how to practically introduce HIA at the local level. HIA tools are provided as well as case study examples.

Title: Economic assessment of transport infrastructure and policies
Publisher: World Health Organisation WHO (Europe)
Date: 2007
Audience: Carrying out cost-benefit of existing or potential transport systems
Resource: Cost-benefit analysis tool
Description: Methodological guidance on the economic appraisal of health effects related to walking and cycling.

Title: Health impact assessment of transport initiatives: a guide
Publisher: Health Scotland
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Introductory guidance
Description: Overview of the best available research evidence on the health impacts (positive and negative) of transport initiatives.

Title: Health impact assessment of greenspace: a guide
Publisher: Health Scotland, greenspace Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Institute and Occupational Medicine
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guide
Description: Aims to help people carry out a health impact assessment of greenspace; whether these are greenspace policies, strategies, plans, frameworks, programmes or projects.

Title: Healthy design principles for use in the health impact assessment of mixed residential developments
Publisher: Birley HIA
Date: 2007
Audience: Developers and the public sector
Resource: Guide (draft for comment)
Description: Intended for use at the masterplanning stage, when preparing documents in support of outline planning permission.

Title: Integrating health into the core strategy: a guide for primary care trusts in London
Publisher: NHS London Healthy Urban Development Unit
Date: December 2008
Audience: Primary care trusts
Resource: Guidance
Description: Guide to help PCTs get involved and influence local development framework core strategies. It explains how to develop effective policies from health evidence and how to determine future health infrastructure requirements and incorporate them into the plan. Includes a health check, used to ensure that the core strategy is based on robust health evidence and can be delivered.

Title: Planning for health in London
Publisher: NHS London Healthy Urban Development Unit
Date: December 2008
Audience: Local authorities and primary care trusts
Resource: Manual
Description: Aims to help PCTs and local authorities promote health through the spatial planning system. Includes guidance on producing spatial strategies and plans that promote health. Many of the recommendations are applicable across the UK.

Title: Planning with a purpose
Publisher: NHS Health Development Agency
Date: October 2003
Audience: Local planning authorities and NHS staff
Resource: Guidance and case studies
Description: Examines the ways that local authorities and the NHS can plan together to improve health and well-being across local strategic partnerships. Includes summary of local government plan requirements for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland in 2003. N.B. these requirements have been subject to change.

Title: Building health: what needs to be done
Publisher: National Heart Forum
Date: July 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Briefing papers
Description: Examines how the design of towns, cities and buildings might encourage physical activity covers issues ranging from strategic and urban planning, to walking and cycling, to urban green space and building design. Offers recommendations aimed at national and local policymakers to help build healthier communities.

Networks and Programmes 

Title: Healthy cities programme
Publisher: World Health Organisation WHO (Europe)
Date: Established 1987
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Comprehensive information on the healthy cities programme, which engages local government across Europe in health development through partnership-based planning and innovative projects.

Title: Healthy communities
Publisher: I&DeA
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: Information and opportunities for discussion and involvement about health improvement and health inequalities at the local authority level. Gives examples of good practice.

Title: The climate connection: public health partnership for action
Publisher: The Climate Connection
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website resource
Description: Online network outlining how the health sector is engaging with climate change. Partners include UKPHA, CIEH and Department of Health.

Title: NHS Sustainable Development Unit
Publisher: NHS
Date: Ongoing
Audience: NHS staff and partners
Resource: Website
Description: Provides leadership, support and policy input to ensure the NHS in England is able to fulfil its ambition to be the most visible and effective public sector exemplar in sustainable development in general and carbon reduction in particular. The NHS is responsible for over 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum, the largest public sector contributor to climate change.

Research 

Title: Unfit for purpose: how car use fuels climate change and obesity
Publisher: Institute for European Environmental Policy
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Study findings
Description: Assesses the contribution of the growth in car use to the parallel increases in obesity and climate change.

Title: Every child’s future matters
Publisher: Sustainable Development Commission
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Explores the influence of the environment on children's wellbeing and health.

Strategies 

Title: Physical activity and the environment
Publisher: National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE)
Date: 2008
Audience: NHS and built environment professionals
Resource: Public health programme guidance
Description: Offers the first national, evidence-based recommendations on how to improve the physical environment to encourage physical activity. It demonstrates the importance of such improvements and the need to evaluate how they impact on the public's health.

Title: Healthy weight, healthy lives: a cross government strategy for England
Publisher: Department of Health
Date: January 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Government strategy
Description: Part of a programme to support people to maintain a healthy weight. Examines the latest evidence and trends, and makes recommendations for further action. Includes healthy towns.

Title: Good places, better health: a new approach to the environment and health in Scotland: implementation plan
Publisher: The Scottish Government
Date: December 2008
Audience: General/Scotland
Resource: Strategy
Description: Implementation plan recognising the need for better connections around how the physical environment influences health

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Housing

Title: Debut housing
RTPI Planning Awards 2007 Commendation
Publisher: Redrow Homes
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case study – affordable housing
Description: The first Debut scheme at Willans Green, Rugby used modern methods of construction to improve build efficiency to provide low cost starter homes. The layout of the communal space aims to create a sense of neighbourhood and the development has a BREEAM eco excellent rating. It is a good example of close working between the house building industry and the local authority.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Creating a sense of place: a design guide
Publisher: The Princes Foundation
Date: February 2006
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Deals with the appearance, construction and layout of affordable housing designed for villages and small towns and addresses the good planning, integration and aesthetic appearance of affordable housing.

Title: Land supply assessment checks
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: May 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Best practice
Description: Highlights best practice in establishing a 5 year supply of deliverable sites for housing as part of a strategic housing land availability assessment.

Title: Homes fit for families: an evidence review
Publisher: Family and Parenting Institute
Date: 2008
Audience: Policy makers
Resource: Policy discussion paper
Description: Explores how children and families are affected by their physical environment, both in their home and their immediate neighbourhood. It suggests policy solutions to ensure housing is fit for families.

Title: Building for life
Publisher: Building for Life
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: The national standard for well-designed homes and neighbourhoods. The 20 criteria are used to assess the quality of new housing schemes and to judge the building for life awards, which have been endorsed by Department for Communities and Local Government.

Title: Evaluating housing proposals step by step
Publisher: Building for Life
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Toolkit
Description: explains in detail how to help assess and compare the quality of proposed developments using the building for life criteria. It gives examples of the materials a design team should prepare to help an assessor understand the design thinking behind a development.

Title: Code for sustainable homes: technical guide
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: October 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Technical guide
Description: Sets out the requirements for the code. It aims to make gaining a code assessment as simple, transparent and rigorous as possible. Came into effect on the 3 November 2008.

Title: Rapid evidence assessment of the research literature on the purchase and use of second homes
Publisher: National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (DCLG)
Date: October 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Addresses the impact of second homes and failure to plan for them and examines the evidence base.

Title: Developing and maintaining mixed tenure housing developments
Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: September 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Research and policy roundup
Description: Evaluates the strategic and policy context for housing development and neighbourhood renewal.

Title: Evidence gathering: housing in multiple occupation and possible planning responses: final report
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: September 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Reviews the problems caused by high concentrations of houses in multiple occupation, which has been highlighted as a problem in a number of towns and cities across the country.

Title: Impact of worsening affordability on demand for social and affordable housing: tenure choice and household
Formation
Publisher: National Housing and Planning Advice Unit (DCLG)
Date: July 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Examines how worsening affordability of owner occupation affects tenure choice and ability of households to form.

Title: The influence of neighbourhood deprivation on people’s attachment to places
Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: May 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Research findings
Description: Considers the factors that cause people to become attached to deprived neighbourhoods in England, and the things that prevent attachment from developing. In particular, it examines how social mix and high population turnover affects attachment.

Title: Life in affordable housing
Publisher: Housing Corporation
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Examines what kind of affordable housing people want, which aspects of their homes they like, and highlights issues that need to be addressed to improve housing to better meet the needs of the tenants (and shared owners) of today and tomorrow.

Title: Strategic housing good practice guides
Publisher: Improvement and Development Agency
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Good practice guides
Description: Series of four good practice guides examining: community leadership and the strategic housing role in local government; good practice in access to housing and good housing services; good practice in place-shaping and the strategic housing role; and new housing provision and the strategic housing role.

Title: Measuring housing affordability: a review of data sources
Publisher: Cambridge Centre for Housing and Planning Research
Date: December 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Provides advice to the regions on the quality and availability of data relating to housing affordability. It is intended to be a resource, particularly for those with less experience in understanding the housing market as well as those making decisions about planning for housing.

Title: Character and identity: townscape and heritage appraisals in housing market renewal areas
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: November 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Townscape and heritage appraisals offer a systematic and structured way of exploiting the unique historical features of an area. This report looks at the use of appraisals in the Elevate East Lancashire housing market renewal area. It shows that appraisals help give new developments character and a sense of place.

Title: Eco-friendly housing projects 

Publisher: Inside Housing
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case studies
Description: Report on five homegrown projects - and one Swedish suburb – that show how eco-friendly housing is done.

Title: South Gate, Toynes
Publisher: Housing Design Awards
Date: July 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study – housing design
Description: South Hams District Council worked with local community group and ran design competitions to find the scheme local residents would want.

Title: Land supply assessment checks
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: May 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Research report
Description: Highlights best practice in establishing a 5 year supply of deliverable sites for housing as part of a strategic housing land availability assessment identified from a survey of a sample of 55 local authorities for 2007 to 2012

Return to signpost index. 

Local Development Frameworks

Title: Infrastructure planning and delivery
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: January 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Resource materials
Description: To produce an effective infrastructure plan, planners and their partners need to engage actively in the process. However, this process is neither well developed nor well understood. Package of support materials, including briefing notes and resource book.

Title: Local development frameworks: examining development plan documents: soundness guidance
Publisher: Planning Inspectorate
Date: August 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: This document provides guidance to local planning authorities and all those involved in the development plan document examination process.  It sets out the approach that will be taken to assess whether a plan has been prepared in accordance with the legislative requirements and to establish whether it is sound. 

Title: Regional spatial strategy and local development framework: core output indicators – update 2/08
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: July 2008
Audience: Regional planning bodies and local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Contains revised core output indicators for regional planning bodies and local planning authorities to report on in their annual monitoring reports as part of the approach to regional and local monitoring.

Title: Lets stick together: how planning authorities are collaborating on local development frameworks
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: 2008
Audience: Local planning authorities
Resource: Case studies
Description: Shows how planning authorities are collaborating on local development frameworks and the lessons they are learning.

Title: Soundness self assessment toolkit
Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: October 2008
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Toolkit
Description: A new version of the soundness self-assessment toolkit enabling local authorities to check the legal compliance and soundness their core strategy.

Title: Delivering the common vision 

Publisher: Planning Advisory Service
Date: 2008
Audience: Local planning authorities
Resource: Workbook
Description: Gives advice on how the gap between core strategies and other key council strategic documents can start to be closed. Based upon experience gained whilst running a programme to support a number of councils.

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Minerals and Waste 

Title: After minerals RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Royal Society for the Protection on Birds (RSPB)
Date: Launched 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: A resource for everyone with an interest in quarry restoration. It includes case studies, habitat advice and a tool to search for detailed information on a large number of individual sites.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Designing waste facilities: a key guide to modern design in waste
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Date: November 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Aims to provide strategic guidance which can be applied to all waste facilities whatever the size; from smaller community facilities, to larger combined heat and power facilities. It is a central resource to allow professionals to access best practice from other development sectors and make informed choices.

Title: National and regional guidelines for aggregates provision in England 2005-2020
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: July 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Guidelines
Description: To be used in the preparation and revision of minerals local development frameworks and regional spatial strategies.

Return to signpost index.

Natural Environment

Title: Green spaces: measuring the benefits
Publisher: The National Trust
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Research report
Description: Drawing on case studies from the East of England this report explores how to look afresh to assess the social, economic and environmental benefits that come from good land management by developing a methodology identifying and measuring multiple benefits. The multifunctional’ approach could be used across the country.

Title: Carrick Golf Resort, Loch Lomond RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study
Description: The development involves the reclamation of a 260 acre site of former sand and gravel workings for the creation of a golf resort and nature reserve, all developed to a very high standard. The planning officers have given great attention to detail on a sensitive site, in terms of views from the Loch and the protection and enhancement of important wildlife and archaeological resources.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Pembroke Dock Regeneration RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Commendation
Publisher: Pembrokeshire County Council
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study
Description: A strong partnership team has succeeded in revitalising this small town. The principles of sustainable development have been considered in the delivery of the regeneration strategy. Public sector funding has been used to pump-prime private sector investment.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Princesshay, Exeter RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Commendation
Publisher: Exeter City Council
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study
Description: A mixed use, open street scheme in the heart of Exeter historic city centre. The quality of the architecture and public realm integrates into the urban fabric, providing enhanced pedestrian routes through a busy part of the retail centre.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Countryside Survey
Publisher: Countryside Survey
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General - rural
Resource: Survey results
Description: Provides scientifically reliable evidence about the state or ‘health’ of the UK’s countryside. Compares 2007’s findings against the findings of previous surveys from 1998, 1990, 1984 and 1978 to identify change, which is used to help form policies that influence management of the countryside.

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Population and Migration 

Title: A resource guide on local migration statistics
Publisher: Local Government Association
Date: January 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Assists local authorities and their partners in developing local population and migration estimates and trends, including the role of international migration and its impact on local populations; and early warnings of trends in such migrant flows and the extent of population churn.

Return to signpost index.

Public Realm 

Title: Manual for Streets RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Department for Transport
Date: December 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Provides guidance for practitioners involved in the planning, design, provision and approval of new residential streets, and modifications to existing ones. It aims to increase the quality of life through good design, which creates more people-orientated streets.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Sheffield’s gold route
RTPI Planning Awards 2007 Winner
Publisher: Sheffield City Council
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case study – public realm
Description: A series of streets and spaces forming a pedestrian network designed to attract visitors and linking key parts of the city centre. Each space has a distinctive character, but there is a common theme of water, natural materials and crafted metal. Recognises the importance the public realm plays in stimulating economic and cultural regeneration.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Safer places: the planning system and crime prevention
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment with the Home Office and ODPM
Date: 2004
Audience: Local authorities and police
Resource: Good practice guide
Description: Sets out how the planning system is able to deliver well-designed and safe places. It challenges all those involved in the design and layout of new development to think about the most appropriate crime reduction measures without compromising the quality of the local environment.

Title: This way to better residential streets
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: April 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Briefing/case studies
Description: Investigates residential street design using examples from England and Scotland. It identifies common problems, explains how good design helps to connect and structure neighbourhoods and makes recommendations for improvement.

Title: Open space strategies
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: May 2009
Audience: Local authorities
Resource: Guidance
Description: Practical guidance on how to prepare, deliver, monitor and review an open space strategy. It reflects the latest thinking on the role of open space in tackling climate change and improving the quality of people’s lives and includes best practice examples.

Title: Building case studies database
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Case studies
Description: Searchable database of hundreds of examples of the best buildings and places in the country, from large-scale plans for city centres to shops and theatres.

Return to signpost index.

Regeneration 

Title: Media City UK RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: S Wright Ltd
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study
Description: A purpose built, high quality waterfront creative hub in Salford Quays, which is being built by public-private partnership. A masterplan for the area and planning guidance prepared by Salford and Trafford Councils is giving a context for the development.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Liverpool One RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Liverpool City Council
Date: 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Case study – town centre regeneration
Description: Major mixed use development, which covers an extensive area adjoining the main retail area. It is an example of a successful partnership approach, with a long term commitment by the developer, carried out quickly with a high standard of architecture and public realm.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Tackling multiple deprivation in communities: considering the evidence
Publisher: The Scottish Government
Date: 2009
Audience: General - Scotland
Resource: Research report
Description: A review of area based community regeneration in Scotland, which looks at the impact of previous interventions, and future challenges.

Title: Inland waterways: unlocking the potential and securing the future of inland waterways through the planning system
Publisher: Town and Country Planning Association
Date: July 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Urges a more joined up approach to realising the contribution inland waterways can make to regeneration, mitigating the impact of climate change and providing sustainable transport corridors. Includes case studies.

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Rural Planning

Title: Rural planning facilitation service RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Cumbria Rural Enterprise Agency
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Rural planners
Resource: Case study rural planning
Description: Service available to farmers looking to diversify and to small rural enterprises throughout, aims to promote and assist farm diversification and rural development by providing a free planning adviser to discuss proposals and help develop ideas likely to be acceptable in planning terms.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Ruralnet UK
Publisher: Ruralnet UK
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Rural regeneration charity website
Description: Promotes a living and working countryside and finds new and effective ways to help rural communities improve and strengthen their local economies. Works through promoting and enabling collaboration, research, consultancy and knowledge and information transfer. Supports projects that put ideas into practice at the local level.

Title: Voices from rural Scotland: what really matters to the people who live and work in Scotland’s rural communities?
Publisher: Carnegie UK Trust
Date: May 2008
Audience: Scottish policy makers
Resource: Research report
Description: Results of a survey highlighting the concerns of members of rural Scottish communities, with recommendations for action.

Title: Rural Development Council
Publisher: Rural Development Council
Date: Established 2008
Audience: General/Scotland
Resource: Website
Description: A forum which brings together a broad range of expertise on rural matters to bear on strategic discussions which will shape the development of rural policy and practice in Scotland.

Title: State of the countryside 2008
Publisher: Commission for Rural Communities
Date: July 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Compendium
Description: Provides a comprehensive description of social, economic and environmental conditions and changes across rural England, highlighting the main challenges and future trends for government and other organisations.

Title: Rural excellence programme phase 2
Publisher: I&DeA
Date: July 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Mentoring programme report
Description: Phase two of the rural excellence programme focused on strategic housing in rural areas. It comprised two main work areas: action learning and mentoring.

Title: Monitoring rural proofing 2007
Publisher: Commission for Rural Communities
Date: 2008
Audience: Government policy makers
Resource: Monitoring report
Description: Examines how policy development and delivery is taking account of rural needs and circumstances. It reports on activity at the national and regional level during the year from April 2006 to March 2007.

Title: Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE)
Publisher: Action with Communities in Rural England
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Campaign body’s website
Description: National umbrella of the Rural Community Action Network (RCAN), which supports rural communities across the country. It provides advice, tools and resources to generate effective community action.

Title:  National Association of Local Councils (NALC)
Publisher: NALC
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: A membership organisation representing the interests of town and parish councils in England. Over 150 new parish and town councils have been created since 1997. NALC lobby’s government to advance and protect the interests of these councils, and their communities.

Title: The government’s response to the report of the rural advocate: England’s rural areas: steps to release their economic potential
Publisher: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Date: February 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Sets out the Government’s analysis of the economic picture in rural areas, their approach to supporting communities and businesses and reports on the progress that has been made against the recommendations set out in the Rural Advocate’s Report.

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Sustainable Communities 

Title: Adamstown strategic development zone RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: South Dublin County Council
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Local authority planners
Resource: Case study sustainable communities
Description: Successful 10,000 home, plus community and employment use new urban district on the fringe of Dublin. It was designated a strategic development zone in 2001 and delivers an attractive modern vernacular, sustainable mixed-use, medium density settlement, of a size often advocated for new settlements. 

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Sherwood energy village
RTPI Planning Awards 2007 Winner
Publisher: Newark and Sherwood District Council
Date: 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Case study – low carbon development/regeneration
Description: Innovative approach to the redevelopment of a former colliery site by the local community into a commercial development, housing and recreational areas incorporating sustainable building techniques and energy efficient measures.
RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Urban extensions, planning and participation: lessons from Derwenthorpe and other new communities
Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: March 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: Combines the first hand learning of practitioners with an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the current policy framework, and draws conclusions that are relevant not just to high-profile eco-towns but to all new communities in Britain.

Title: Scottish sustainable communities initiative report
Publisher: Scottish Government
Date: May 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Report
Description: 11 projects have bee recognised as having potential to demonstrate the creation of sustainable communities through the Scottish sustainable communities initiative. This report sets out the Scottish Government's response to the submissions and contains an outline of the assessment process followed and presents the findings in relation to each of the 11 exemplar projects.

Title: World class places: the Government’s strategy for improving quality of place
Publisher: Department for Communities and Local Government
Date: May 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Strategy
Description: Sets out the Government's strategy for improving quality of place, the way the places where we live and work are planned, designed, developed and maintained, and the steps being taken to build on recent success.

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Tourism 

Title: Creating a sustainable tourism destination
Publisher: CREST (Creation of Sustainable Tourism Destinations)
Date: 2008
Audience: Policy makers
Resource: Toolkit
Description: Summarises the key issues to be considered, identifies key actions to include in local action plans, and provides examples that may inspire small communities to become more sustainable visitor destinations.

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Transport and Infrastructure

Title: Channel tunnel rail link: high speed 1 RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Winner
Publisher: Channel Tunnel Rail Link Planning Forum
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Case study – major infrastructure project
Description: Acts as a model for major infrastructure projects, showing they can be delivered on time and on budget. Successful elements include extensive public consultation, a high degree of partnership working, substantial regeneration benefits along the route, designed to limit impacts on settlements and built with environmental sensitivity.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Ebbw Valley railway project RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Commendation
Publisher: Blaenau Gwent Borough Council
Date: Ongoing
Audience: General
Resource: Case study - infrastructure
Description: Innovative project that reinstated the rail service between Ebbw Valley and Cardiff, fulfilling the aims of providing an environmentally sustainable, public transport service and promote social inclusion by providing access to work, education, training, health and leisure.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Delivering a sustainable transport system
Publisher: Department for Transport
Date: November 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Strategy
Description: Outlines five goals for transport, focusing on the challenge of delivering strong economic growth, whilst reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It outlines the key components of national infrastructure, and discusses the difficulties of planning over the long term and describes the substantial investments being made to tackle congestion and crowding on transport networks.

Title: Chooseanotherway.com
Publisher: Natural Scotland
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Local authorities and schools
Resource: Website
Description: An initiative of the Scottish Government and its partners designed to encourage more sustainable transport choices through the creation and implementation of travel plans.

Title: The benefits of providing new public transport in deprived areas
Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: July 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Briefing paper
Description: Assesses the social and monetary value of public transport initiatives in four deprived areas of England in order to identify who benefits and how they benefit in relation to wider social inclusion objectives.

Title: Public attitudes towards climate change and the impact of transport
Publisher: Department of Transport
Date: May 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Public opinion poll
Description: Summarises people's attitudes to climate change in relation to transport, taken from the Office for National Statistics' omnibus surveys in 2006-2008. It covers levels of concern and knowledge about the causes and consequences of climate change. Includes views on the potential for behavioural change and levels of support for a range of policy options.

Title: Building sustainable transport into new developments
Publisher: Department of Transport
Date: April 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Guidance
Description: Sets out advice on how to build an effective sustainable transport system in new developments, from the planning to the implementation stage. It recommends a variety of transport options to integrate and adopt according to the location and needs of the individual development.

Title: Masterplanning checklist for sustainable transport in new developments
Publisher: Campaign for Better Transport
Date: September 2008
Audience: General
Resource: Checklist
Description: Intended as a practical guide for planning authorities, developers and others this report emphasises the role of local travel as a fundamental part of sustainable communities.

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Urban Design

Title: Design review: principles and practice
Publisher: CABE, RTPI, RIBA and Landscape Institute
Date: November 2009
Resource: Guidance and case studies
Description: Explains how design review can support good design through the planning process and how to set up and run a design review panel. Case studies illustrate the breadth of panels now operating and share learning from their experiences. Replaces How to do design review.

Title: Urban design framework for Stratford on Avon RTPI Planning Awards 2008 Commendation
Publisher: Stratford on Avon District Council
Date: 2007
Audience: General
Resource: Case study, urban design framework
Description: Supplementary planning document, produced jointly with Warwickshire County Council and other key stakeholders. It provides an overall framework for future development and improvement of the town in terms of the built environment, public realm and transport.

RTPI Judges report available.

Title: Library of urban design online
Publisher: Architecture and Design Scotland
Date: Launched January 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Website
Description: An online reference library of weblinks related to a broad scope of urban design issues, includes a range of materials from research papers through to podcasts.

Title: Good design: the fundamentals
Publisher: Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Date: January 2009
Audience: General
Resource: Policy document
Description: Sets out why architecture and urban design are such important cultural assets. It also tackles some of the lame excuses often given for poor designs.

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