Meanwhile, the business rates holiday is to be extended. . The government has committed itself to an overhaul of the business rates system – but… Read More »A ‘fundamental review’ of business rates promised, but delayed

… as destination points. “We need planners and local authorities to recognise the importance of the hospitality and nightlife sector on the regeneration of our… Read More »Reinventing the high street – repurposing empty retail stores

“Trees improve our urban spaces, making them better places to live.” . The council at the city of Sheffield didn’t seem to like trees on… Read More »Planting trees on our streets

“A new national mood with 66 percent of adults worried by the state of the planet, climate change and the decline of wildlife and nature.”… Read More »Mainstream media going green

“There will be objections to this idea from some environmental groups, but the crucial point they must consider is that this would be a truly… Read More »Bluefin tuna and ‘sport fishing’ in the West Country

“A broad range of housing, planning, transport, environmental, heritage, built environment and public health organisations have come together to set out a shared vision for… Read More »A vision for planning: a challenge

There is “a new breed of stoves for smoke control areas that will protect us from killer pollution.” . There’s concern that ‘trendy’ wood-burning stoves are… Read More »How smokeless are wood-burning stoves?

Presenting a framework for analysing the Sidmouth Beach Management Plan’s Aims & Objectives The next meeting of the BMP Advisory Group on 25th February will… Read More »Beach Managment Plan: an analysis for the next meeting

The scheme offers to fund up to two-thirds of the cost of installing insulation, heat pumps and draught-proofing. “Removing the money would be an alarming… Read More »Green Homes Grant: apply before it runs out

… contradictions, alternatives and trying to square the circle . HS2: It’s all steam ahead for one of the UK’s biggest infrastructure projects: HS2 gets… Read More »The true costs of infrastructure

The future of food security/nutrition, livelihoods and environmental sustainability . The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation has just produced a report looking at the pandemic’s… Read More »Is the food system ‘fraying’?

Available: A Toolkit for Local Authorities . The Devon Wildlife Trust is concerned about the use of pesticides: Pesticides: respond to the UK’s action plan… Read More »Phasing out glyphosate pesticides used by councils

… making versatile products. . Some two years ago, National Geographic published this excellent piece as part of their ‘Planet or Plastic’ series: We Depend… Read More »The circular economy as a solution to plastic waste

“Going cashless isn’t straightforward” . Banks and cash machines are disappearing from our high street: Sidmouth loses yet another high street bank – Vision Group… Read More »A cashless society, small businesses and the elderly

The combination of enthusiastic amateurs, repair cafés and new laws could help tackle the world’s growing mountains of broken electronics… “The Environment Bill… will facilitate… Read More »Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy