In another interesting artcile by Roger Milne (see below), Lancashire County Council have approved a site on the Flyde coast.
What do not understand is why big companies are wasting money and resources on new or today's technology to find yesterday's fuel when they should investing money in renewable energy such as solar photovoltaic cells, wind farms, wave power and such like.
With modern buildings being built to higher and higher standards of efficiency, and some already having solar panels on the buildings that put energy back into grid the pursuit of gas and oil seems pointless to me.
Also, renewable energies give much greater freedom to a country and break any hold that another country may have over the supply of energies such as gas and oil.
Lancashire County Council planners have recommended that test fracking should be allowed at one of two sites on the Fylde coast.
This follows applications from energy company Cuadrilla to use fracking to extract shale gas at Little Plumpton and Roseacre Wood.
The application for Little Plumpton has been recommended for approval. Roseacre Wood has been recommended for refusal because of the impact on road safety caused by increased lorry traffic.
If approved it would be the first time a planning authority has backed an application to frack, drill and test flow the gas and the first fracking since tests near Blackpool in 2011 which caused small earth tremors.
In a separate but related development, the Environment Agency is consulting on environmental permits to allow Third Energy to carry out test-fracking at a site near the village of Kirby Misperton in Ryedale, North Yorkshire. A planning application is due to be submitted to the county council shortly.
Meanwhile, the government has denied that fracking applications will receive less environmental scrutiny from the public following proposals from the Environment Agency to introduce standardised testing for both conventional and unconventional oil and gas wells.
In a joint statement from the Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Environment Agency, the government insisted: “The process for operators to apply for a fracking permit has not changed. Any operator wanting to undertake fracking needs to apply for an environmental permit, conduct an environmental impact assessment and apply for planning permission. This is open to full public consultation.”
www.gbs-designs.co.uk
Monday, 22 June 2015
Thursday, 19 March 2015
Planning News Roundup
Some interesting news this week from the Planning Portal.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/general/news/stories/2015/Mar15/190315/190315_6
www.gbs-designs.co.uk
Monday, 16 March 2015
Degree Apprenticeships
Having recently seen our apprentice become qualified I read this with great interest:
The Construction Index
Construction News
Fri March 13th 2015
Extract:
Chartered surveying is one of nine degree apprenticeships that the government has announced in addition to four that have previously been developed. The previous ones include construction.
The latest ones are more engineering focused and include electronic systems engineering, aerospace engineering, aerospace software development, defence systems engineering and, er, public relations.
The idea of degree apprenticeships is that they combine aspects of higher and vocational education, in much the same way as a traditional sandwich course placement.
Groups of businesses, universities and colleges are developing vocational degree courses that allow people to combine both academic study from a traditional university degree with practical experience.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Degree apprenticeships will give people a great head start, combining a full degree with the real practical skills gained in work and the financial security of a regular pay packet. They will bring the world of business and the world of education closer together, and let us build the high-level technical skills needed for the jobs of the future. I want to see many more businesses and universities begin to offer them.”
Higher apprentices are already able study to degree level as part of their apprenticeship but degree apprenticeships will go further, the government said. They will involve a degree as an integral part of the apprenticeship, co-designed by employers so that it is relevant for the skills industry requires.
As with other apprenticeships, the cost of course fees are shared between government and employers, meaning that the apprentice can earn a full bachelors or even masters degree without paying any fees.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) welcomed the move. External affairs director Kim Worts said: “RICS is delighted to be part of new apprenticeship reforms. For the first time we will provide degree apprenticeships for trainee surveyors, leading to chartered status (MRICS).”
The first chartered surveying degree apprenticeships will be open to entrants from September 2015 in England. Surveying apprentices will undertake a part-time undergraduate degree and gain in-work experience and training over a period of four to five years.
Engineering Employers Federation chief executive Terry Scuoler said: “There has been a noticeable gap in higher-level provision that combines both vocational and academic learning, and degree apprenticeships are the opportunity to fill this gap. For employers and learners alike, degree apprenticeships are a good step forward. Learners earn while they learn to a degree level and employers have access to relevant, responsive, highly-skilled employees.”
Organisations involved in developing the chartered surveying degree apprenticeship scheme are: Gardiner and Theobald, Axis, DTZ, Faithorn Farrell Timms, DSB Construction Consultants, Valuation Office Agency, Transport for London, EC Harris, Martin Arnold Associates, Collier & Madge, CBRE, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London Southbank University and Birmingham City University.
To read more see HERE
www.gbs-designs.co.uk
The Construction Index
Construction News
Fri March 13th 2015
Extract:
Chartered surveying is one of nine degree apprenticeships that the government has announced in addition to four that have previously been developed. The previous ones include construction.
The latest ones are more engineering focused and include electronic systems engineering, aerospace engineering, aerospace software development, defence systems engineering and, er, public relations.
The idea of degree apprenticeships is that they combine aspects of higher and vocational education, in much the same way as a traditional sandwich course placement.
Groups of businesses, universities and colleges are developing vocational degree courses that allow people to combine both academic study from a traditional university degree with practical experience.
Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Degree apprenticeships will give people a great head start, combining a full degree with the real practical skills gained in work and the financial security of a regular pay packet. They will bring the world of business and the world of education closer together, and let us build the high-level technical skills needed for the jobs of the future. I want to see many more businesses and universities begin to offer them.”
Higher apprentices are already able study to degree level as part of their apprenticeship but degree apprenticeships will go further, the government said. They will involve a degree as an integral part of the apprenticeship, co-designed by employers so that it is relevant for the skills industry requires.
As with other apprenticeships, the cost of course fees are shared between government and employers, meaning that the apprentice can earn a full bachelors or even masters degree without paying any fees.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) welcomed the move. External affairs director Kim Worts said: “RICS is delighted to be part of new apprenticeship reforms. For the first time we will provide degree apprenticeships for trainee surveyors, leading to chartered status (MRICS).”
The first chartered surveying degree apprenticeships will be open to entrants from September 2015 in England. Surveying apprentices will undertake a part-time undergraduate degree and gain in-work experience and training over a period of four to five years.
Engineering Employers Federation chief executive Terry Scuoler said: “There has been a noticeable gap in higher-level provision that combines both vocational and academic learning, and degree apprenticeships are the opportunity to fill this gap. For employers and learners alike, degree apprenticeships are a good step forward. Learners earn while they learn to a degree level and employers have access to relevant, responsive, highly-skilled employees.”
Organisations involved in developing the chartered surveying degree apprenticeship scheme are: Gardiner and Theobald, Axis, DTZ, Faithorn Farrell Timms, DSB Construction Consultants, Valuation Office Agency, Transport for London, EC Harris, Martin Arnold Associates, Collier & Madge, CBRE, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, London Southbank University and Birmingham City University.
To read more see HERE
www.gbs-designs.co.uk
Thursday, 5 February 2015
From Apprentice to Technician
Without a shadow of doubt, one of the huge joys of the past 2 years has been taking the rough diamond that was our apprentice and helping her become the polished jewel that is now our technician.
Saturday, 31 January 2015
Is AutoCAD about to die?!
Is AutoCAD about to die?!
This is not something I ever expected to hear. I've been using AutoCAD since 1989 (yes, I that old or I was just an early adopter) and have been a fan ever since. But in recent years the price has rocketed. So, imagine my delight when I found progeCAD from www.progesoft.com and check it out. I've been using AutoCAD LT 2010 for the last few years and after trialling progeCAD on a project I can tell you that it works in exactly the same way - all the commands; everything and I mean everything. All the favourite commands, the command line, the icons, EVERYTHING!!!
I've tested several AutoCAD alternative over the years (including DoubleCAD and TurboCAD LTE) and I can safely say that progeCAD (which is Swiss by the way and so likely to stay around) is the best.
Plus with the current version of AutoCAD LT retailing at over £1200.00 and the annual licence option running at £285.00, just what do Autodesk think they're doing. LT is supposed to stand for 'light version'. £1250.00?!!! That isn't light. What Autodesk need to do is release a light version of their light version!
Where as progeCAD is £186.75 and it's 3D!!!
You can read more about the engine that powers progeCAD at www.intellicad.org and on other website.
This is not something I ever expected to hear. I've been using AutoCAD since 1989 (yes, I that old or I was just an early adopter) and have been a fan ever since. But in recent years the price has rocketed. So, imagine my delight when I found progeCAD from www.progesoft.com and check it out. I've been using AutoCAD LT 2010 for the last few years and after trialling progeCAD on a project I can tell you that it works in exactly the same way - all the commands; everything and I mean everything. All the favourite commands, the command line, the icons, EVERYTHING!!!
I've tested several AutoCAD alternative over the years (including DoubleCAD and TurboCAD LTE) and I can safely say that progeCAD (which is Swiss by the way and so likely to stay around) is the best.
Plus with the current version of AutoCAD LT retailing at over £1200.00 and the annual licence option running at £285.00, just what do Autodesk think they're doing. LT is supposed to stand for 'light version'. £1250.00?!!! That isn't light. What Autodesk need to do is release a light version of their light version!
Where as progeCAD is £186.75 and it's 3D!!!
You can read more about the engine that powers progeCAD at www.intellicad.org and on other website.
Friday, 30 January 2015
Councils Face Loosing Powers
'Councils face losing powers for not using brownfield sites' In their role as local planning authorities, will be penalised if they do not meet yearly targets on fast-tracking brownfield sites for dev: Inside Housing.CO.UK News
29 January 2015 | By Daniel Douglas
The government plans to take away councils’ planning powers if they fail to use enough local development orders to boost the building of homes on brownfield land.
Councils, in their role as local planning authorities, will be penalised if they do not meet yearly targets on fast-tracking brownfield sites for development
A government consultation, launched yesterday, proposes using ‘local development orders’ – a way of speeding up planning permission on sites – to catalyse house building on brownfield sites. The government wants 9 out of 10 suitable brownfield sites to have a local development order in place by 2020.
Councils that do not meet this target will be found to be ‘under-performing’, meaning developers can submit applications directly to the Planning Inspectorate, going over the head of the council.
An alternative proposal is that councils not meeting the target will be ‘unable to claim the existence of an up to date five year supply of land for housing’, meaning that, under the National Planning Policy Framework, the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ kicks in, again allowing developers to push through development more easily.
The government says that there is enough suitable brownfield land available to build 200,000 homes. The Department for Communities and Local Government in August launched a £5m fund for councils to use to put local development orders in place for brownfield sites. The DCLG was unable to confirm how much of this fund has been allocated.
Some experts warn that this places another burden on overwhelmed planning departments and may take resources away from more important strategic planning.
Sarah Davis, policy adviser at the Chartered Institute of Housing, said: ‘A concern we have is that the drive for this use of brownfield sites, while welcome, may take focus and resources off the bigger picture.
‘It may be a potential problem if it means local planning authorities losing sight of the bigger issues of suitability of sites regarding all of the questions around infrastructure, urban planning, capacity of local resources and so on.’
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: ‘We are slightly concerned that, as local authorities are so lacking in resources right now, it is going to be difficult for them to implement this policy.’
The consultation runs until 11 March.
http://www.insidehousing.co.uk/development/councils-face-losing-powers-for-not-using-brownfield-sites/7008029.article?utm_source=Ocean+Media+&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=5293467_ih-development-29.1.15et&utm_content=$LINK_KEYWORD$&dm_i=1HH2,35GGR,FYUWO8,BAJ36,1
Thursday, 29 January 2015
Straight Distinctions for apprentice
Yep, that's right our apprentice (well, make that Junior Architectural Technician) got straight Distinctions in her BTEC National in Construction. Well done Jasmine, we're all so very proud of you!
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