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      <author>Paul Thompson</author>

      <category domain="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/">Blog</category>

      <description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;img style="width: 353px; height: 127px" class="" alt="" width="409" height="171" _tesavedurl="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/files/media/CarbonFix Logo.jpg" src="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/files/media/CarbonFix Logo.jpg" /&gt;&amp;nbsp; Marishal Thompson working with the CarbonFixIt Foundation &lt;a href="http://www.carbonfix.it"&gt;www.carbonfix.it&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;have developed a Carbon Reduction strategy that will hopefully see the company announce their being carbon neutral by August 2012.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/marishal-thompson-support-for-carbonfixit-foundation/</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:40:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2012-01-27T13:40:00</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Marishal Thompson Support for CarbonFixIt Foundation</title>

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    <item>

      <author>Paul Thompson</author>

      <category domain="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/">Blog</category>

      <description>&lt;p&gt;Marishal Thompson Group, has announced its entry to the supply and implementation of multiple licences Digital mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) and&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;ndash; Spatial Information System software. The new software takes in-house Marishal Thompson systems and launches them for the Insurance and Housing management sectors.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;MD Paul Thompson commented that one of the main reasons for opening up our systems and software to the general market was to allow clients to benefit from the increase spatial analysis and database functionality of our systems to future proof their asset management. With the iQ150 system they are getting the required level of functionality at a much more affordable cost, which means that client GIS budgets stretch further.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;iQ150&amp;rsquo;s existing vector datasets can include OS MasterMap Topographic Layer base-mapping and OS MasterMap Address Layer 2 which can be stored in a PostgreSQL/PostGIS spatial database. iQ150 is then used to access this data, to map the properties and other assets associated with the property.&amp;nbsp; For example, in addition to mapping the location of properties, iQ150 can also be used to map tree locations, claim incidents and management information to enable clients to direct resources to where they are most needed. In addition, it enables staff to access and to view core data such as tree management records, Preservation Orders, environmental reports and photographs relating to each of their properties.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Further benefits that clients will experience will include the ability to analyse data spatially and to examine the relationships between its properties, society and the way in which certain risk exposures are managed and allow better customer service through improved information sharing.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/marishal-thompson-group-launch-spatial-mapping-software/</guid>

      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/marishal-thompson-group-launch-spatial-mapping-software/</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:48:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2008-07-18T20:48:00</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Marishal Thompson Group Launch Spatial Mapping Software</title>

    </item>

    <item>

      <author>Paul Thompson</author>

      <category domain="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/">Blog</category>

      <description>&lt;ul class="doNotPrint" id="breadcrumbs"&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;&lt;a _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1011888239009.html" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1011888239009.html"&gt;Professional User Home&lt;/a&gt; &amp;raquo;&lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;&lt;a _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/4000000000001.html" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/4000000000001.html"&gt;Building Regulations&lt;/a&gt; &amp;raquo;&lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li class="last"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314116927.html" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115314116927.html"&gt;Code for Sustainable Homes&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;raquo;&lt;/li&gt;

&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h1&gt;Code for Sustainable Homes&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;img height="172" alt="Code for Sustainable Homes logo" width="175" align="right" border="0" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/cm/images/1115315132840.jpg" src="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/cm/images/1115315132840.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;On the 27 February 2008 the Government confirmed mandatory rating against the Code will be implemented for new homes from 1 May 2008.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Communities and Local Government&amp;nbsp;have produced further guidance:&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/codesustainabilitystandards" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/codesustainabilitystandards"&gt;&lt;em&gt;The Code for Sustainable Homes: Setting the Sustainability Standards for New Home&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/a&gt; which sets out the current assessment process and the performance standards required for the Code.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introduction&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;On 13 December&amp;nbsp;2006, the Code for Sustainable Homes - a new national standard for sustainable design and construction of new homes was launched.&amp;nbsp;Since April 2007 the developer of any new home in England can choose to be assessed against the Code.&lt;/p&gt;

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                        &lt;p&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide.pdf"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;Full Technical Guidance on how to comply with the Code can be found here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;(PDF 2.5Mb).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

                        &lt;p&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide_oct07.pdf" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide_oct07.pdf"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;Previous Technical Guidance&amp;nbsp;(October 2007)&amp;nbsp;can be found here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;(PDF&amp;nbsp;2Mb).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

                        &lt;p&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide_march07.pdf" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sustainable_homes_techguide_march07.pdf"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;&lt;span class="toolboxhead"&gt;Previous Technical Guidance&amp;nbsp;(March 2007)&amp;nbsp;can be found here&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&amp;nbsp;(PDF&amp;nbsp;2Mb).&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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&lt;/table&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The Code measures the sustainability of a new home against categories of sustainable design, rating the &amp;lsquo;whole home&amp;rsquo; as a complete package.&amp;nbsp; The Code uses a 1 to 6 star rating system to communicate the overall sustainability performance of a new home.&amp;nbsp; The Code sets minimum standards for energy and water use at each level and, within England, replaces the EcoHomes scheme, developed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The Code also gives new homebuyers better information about the environmental impact of their new home and its potential running costs, and offer builders a tool with which to differentiate themselves in sustainability terms.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Consultation&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;On 23 July 2007 Communities and Local Government&amp;nbsp;published a consultation:&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/Makingaratingmandatory" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/Makingaratingmandatory"&gt;The future of the Code for Sustainable Homes - Making a rating mandatory&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;(PDF 551 Kb)&amp;nbsp;on proposals to make rating against the Code for Sustainable Homes mandatory. This consultation also asks about the future of the Code, including whether Lifetime Homes standards should be made mandatory at progressively lower levels of the Code over time.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;On 16 November 2007 the Department published a summary of&amp;nbsp;responses to this consultation:&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/549499" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/549499"&gt;The Future of the Code for Sustainable Homes - Making a Rating Mandatory: Summary of Responses&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;(PDF 304 Kb). The principle message is that as a result of consultation, the Government confirmed it would be proceeding with the implementation of mandatory rating against the Code for all new homes.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The Code for Sustainable Homes was launched as part of a&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/theenvironment/" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/theenvironment/"&gt;package of measures&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;towards zero carbon development, including an overarching consultation:&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/buildinggreener" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/buildinggreener"&gt;Building A Greener Future&amp;nbsp;&lt;/a&gt; &amp;nbsp;on the shift to zero carbon; and a consultation on the draft of a new&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/consultationplanningpolicy" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/consultationplanningpolicy"&gt;Planning Policy Statement:&amp;nbsp;Planning and Climate Change.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Communities and Local Government (then ODPM) carried out a&amp;nbsp;public consultation on the code between 4 December 2005 and 6 March 2006.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/proposalsintroducing" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/proposalsintroducing"&gt;The consultation document&lt;/a&gt;,&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/proposalsintroducing" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/archived/publications/planningandbuilding/proposalsintroducing"&gt;summary of responses&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;to the consultation&amp;nbsp;and the&amp;nbsp;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/final-regulatory" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/final-regulatory"&gt;Regulatory Impact Assessment&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;can be viewed on the Communities and Local Government website.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Related Publication&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/carbonreductions" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.communities.gov.uk/publications/planningandbuilding/carbonreductions"&gt;Carbon Reductions in New Non Domestic Buildings: UK-Green Building Council (UK-GBC) Report&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Archived Publication&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The publication below is now out of date and therefore should no longer be referred to.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sust_homes.pdf%20" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sust_homes.pdf%20"&gt;Code for Sustainable Homes - A step-change in sustainable home building practice (PDF 264 kb)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sust_homes.doc" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/code_for_sust_homes.doc"&gt;Code for Sustainable Homes - A step-change in sustainable home building practice (WORD 3022 kb)&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/code-for-sustainable-homes-released/</link>

      <pubDate>Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:52:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2008-04-17T15:52:00</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Code for Sustainable Homes Released</title>

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      <author>Paul Thompson</author>

      <category domain="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/">Blog</category>

      <description>&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h1&gt;Eco-town shortlist revealed&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The Government has named 15 potential locations for further detailed consideration as eco-towns in England.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Communities and Local Government has stressed that none of the proposed new homes will be built on Green Belt land and that at least 30 per cent of the housing will be affordable.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Publication of the shortlisted locations has indicated that they make significant use of previously developed brownfield land including former MoD land, military depots, disused airfields and former collieries and industrial sites.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;More than 40 proposals have not been taken forward. Ministers decided that some were undeliverable or not ambitious enough to meet the high environmental and affordability standards set by the Government.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Housing and planning minister Caroline Flint has announced that a panel of experts will be set up to help developers improve their proposals and ensure the final eco-towns incorporate the best and most innovative proposals for sustainable living.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;She said: &amp;quot;We have a major shortfall of housing and with so many buyers struggling to find suitable homes, more affordable housing is a huge priority. To face up to the threat of climate change, we must also cut the carbon emissions from our housing. Eco-towns will help solve both of these challenges.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;Building in existing towns and cities alone simply cannot provide enough new homes. I understand this is an issue that can raise strong opinions, but everyone now has the opportunity to express their views before any decisions are made - because this is an issue that affects us all.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The minister added: &amp;quot;Some really innovative green ideas have been proposed - from free public transport for all residents to using the waste heat from nearby power stations to heat homes and businesses. But I am setting the bar high and challenging bidders to go further.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;I have already rejected more than 40 proposals and those promoting eco-town schemes cannot rest on their laurels. That is why I want a panel of experts challenging developers to meet the highest standards possible for sustainability, affordability and creativity.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ministers will now consult widely on the shortlisted locations with a final shorlist due to be published later this year after which each potential eco-town will need to submit a planning application.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;A total of 57 initial proposals were received from local authorities and developers across the country. The 15 shortlisted locations are:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Pennbury, Leicestershire: 12-15,000 homes on a development incorporating brownfield, greenfield and surplus public sector land four miles south east of Leicester.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Manby and Strubby, Lincolnshire: 5,000 homes put forward by East Lindsey District Council on two sites, with large elements of brownfield land including a former RAF base.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Curborough, Staffordshire: 5,000 homes on the brownfield site of the former Fradley airfield, ten miles from Burton.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Middle Quinton, Warwickshire: 6,000 homes on a former Royal Engineers depot which has a rail link to the Worcester-London rail line and is six miles south west of Stratford upon Avon.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Bordon-Whitehill, Hampshire: 5-8,000 homes on a site owned by the Ministry of Defence. A significant number of ex-MoD homes are already on the site, west of Whitehill-Bordon.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Weston Otmoor, Oxfordshire: 10-15,000 homes on a site adjoining the M40 and the Oxford-Bicester railway. Three miles south west of Bicester, the site includes a current airstrip.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Ford, West Sussex: 5,000 homes on a site which includes brownfield land and the former Ford airfield. Close to rail line linking London and the Sussex coast.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Imerys China Clay Community, Cornwall: Development of around 5,000 homes on former china clay workings, industrial land and disused mining pits no longer needed by owner Imerys. The site is close to St Austell.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Rossington, South Yorkshire: Up to 15,000 homes regenerating the former colliery village of Rossington, three miles south of Doncaster.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Coltishall, Norfolk: 5,000 homes on a former RAF airfield, eight miles north of Norwich.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Hanley Grange, Cambridgeshire: 8,000 homes on land adjacent to the A11.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Marston Vale and New Marston, Bedfordshire: up to 15,400 homes on a series of sites, including former industrial sites, along the east-west rail line to Stewartby and Millbrook.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Elsenham, Essex: a minimum of 5,000 homes north east of the existing Elsenham village. Close to M11 and the London to Cambridge rail line.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Rushcliffe, Nottinghamshire: An eco-town proposal was submitted for Kingston-on-Soar, to the south of Nottingham. In response to representations from Rushcliffe Borough Council, this site is not to be pursued. However, the Government is proposing to carry out a further review in partnership with the council to consider whether there is a suitable alternative location.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

    &lt;li&gt;

    &lt;div&gt;Leeds City Region, Yorkshire: a number of eco-town proposals were submitted for locations within the area of Leeds City Region partnership of 11 authorities, principally between Leeds and Selby. The Leeds City Region Partnership has indicated support in principle for an eco-town within the sub-region. The Partnership has proposed a further study to compare the best alternative locations across the area. The Government has agreed to support this approach, on the basis that it will allow a further announcement to be made shortly of one or more sites for consultation.&lt;/div&gt;

    &lt;/li&gt;

&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;

&lt;a target="_blank" _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp%3FReleaseID%3D364430%26NewsAreaID%3D2" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/PpWeb/jsp/redirect.jsp?url=http%3A//nds.coi.gov.uk/Content/Detail.asp%3FReleaseID%3D364430%26NewsAreaID%3D2"&gt;Read the Communities and Local Government press release&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/eco-town-shortlist-revealed/</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:07:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2008-04-04T12:07:00</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Eco-town shortlist revealed </title>

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      <author>Paul Thompson</author>

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      <description>&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;A couple who hired a tree surgeon to fell a protected oak tree have been&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;ordered to pay fines and costs totalling &amp;pound;25,500.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;Simon and Deborah Pooley, of York Road, Bury St Edmunds, were sentenced at&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;Chelmsford Crown Court&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt; after being convicted of felling a tree protected by a&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;tree preservation order at Ipswich Crown Court last November. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;The Pooleys, who owned the development plot the tree stood on at Maltings Lane,&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;Ingham, near Bury St Edmunds, were fined &amp;pound;8,500 and ordered to pay &amp;pound;17,000&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;costs for their part in the felling. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;Anthony Leek, the contractor who felled the tree, was fined &amp;pound;1,500 and ordered&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;to pay &amp;pound;3,000 costs. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;The convictions come following lengthy prosecution proceedings brought by St&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;Edmundsbury Borough Council. The tree was felled in January 2005, despite an&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;exchange of correspondence with the council and shortly before a planning&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;appeal site visit was due to take place. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;The owner claimed that the tree was dangerous.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;Helen Levack, chairman of St Edmundsbury Borough Council's Development Control&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;Committee, said: &amp;quot;We are absolutely delighted with the sentence handed down by&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;the court. The fact that the fines and costs total &amp;pound;30,000 shows just how&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;seriously these matters are taken. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;&amp;quot;Protecting the natural heritage of our beautiful borough is equally as&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;important as preserving our historic buildings. Preservation orders are placed&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;on trees for a good reason and when the law is broken, we have to react&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;robustly.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;&amp;quot;We hope this sentence will send a firm message to anyone else who is&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;considering taking similar action without permission.&amp;quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;The court ordered that the costs and fines should be paid within six months and&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;that prison sentences should be served in default if the payments are not made.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

&lt;div&gt;&lt;font face="Courier New" size="2"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Courier New'"&gt;All three are appealing against their convictions.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/font&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</description>

      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/couple-incur-163-25-500-costs-for-felling-tpo-tree/</guid>

      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/couple-incur-163-25-500-costs-for-felling-tpo-tree/</link>

      <pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:22:54 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2008-03-03T10:22:54</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Couple incur &amp;#163;25,500 costs for felling TPO tree</title>

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    <item>

      <author>Paul Thompson</author>

      <category domain="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/">Blog</category>

      <description>&lt;h1&gt;Special report: Eco-town concept gathers ground&lt;/h1&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The Government is due to publish its shortlist of eco-town schemes for consultation shortly, following a cross-Government review.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The expectation is that ten such new settlements will be developed, across the English regions.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The initiative has its immediate roots in the Government's drive for 3m new homes over the next couple of decades. The idea also chimes with the new green agenda and the need to make big cuts in carbon emissions to meet the challenge of climate change. The schemes will be expected to be exemplars of low and zero carbon development.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Originally ministers had proposed a programme of five eco-towns but such was the interest in the concept that the prime minister decided last year to double the number. Gordon Brown announced that move during last year's Labour Party Conference.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Nearly 60 bids have been registered with the Government and have been assessed against the criteria set out in the administration's Eco-Towns Prospectus. These include transport, land use and the infrastructure needed to make the development deliverable and sustainable.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Housing minister Iain Wright told Parliament recently that this exercise, which has involved Government departments, Natural England, the Environment Agency, Regional Assemblies and development agencies, would exclude sites &amp;quot;where there are too many showstoppers to allow development to take place&amp;quot;.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The initiative has not been without controversy. In a number of areas protest groups have been set up. MPs and some council leaders have asked the Government to drop particular projects.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;From the outset of this initiative ministers have insisted that the schemes must be suitable in environmental, social and economic terms.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ministers have stressed: &amp;quot;We have an ageing, growing population with more people living alone, and rising housing demand is outstripping new supply. To help families across the country find affordable, quality housing we need to build far more houses.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;But we also need new measures to protect the environment. At the beginning of the 21st Century our greatest environmental challenge is from climate change. As housing accounts for 27 per cent of carbon emissions, we need to substantially cut emissions from new homes and work towards zero carbon housing and development.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;quot;We need to learn the lessons too from both the successes and the mistakes of previous generations. New developments need to be of the highest design standards as well as the highest environmental standards. Homes need to be built in truly mixed communities with strong economic underpinnings to support jobs and sustainable growth.&amp;quot;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Just how many of the bids will satisfy the initial sieve remains to be seen. The basic requirements are clear cut.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Eco-towns will be small new towns of between 5,000 and 20,000 homes. They are intended to exploit the potential to create a complete new settlement to achieve zero carbon development and more sustainable living using the best new design and architecture.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;This must translate into places with a separate and distinct identity but good links to surrounding towns and cities in terms of jobs, transport and services.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The development as a whole must achieve zero carbon and to be an exemplar in at least one area of environment technology.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The settlement must provide a good range of facilities within the town including a secondary school, shopping, business space and leisure.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Critically, the eco-town must have between 30 and 50 per cent affordable housing with a good mix of tenures and size of homes in mixed communities.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;And, crucially, the settlement must have a delivery organisation to manage the town and its development and provide support for people, businesses and community services.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Ministers have insisted that the eco-towns will be subject to widespread local consultation and will need to acknowledge the new development plan system.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Further clarity in this area is expected shortly. What is crystal clear is that the idea has already developed a head of steam and incredible enthusiasm in many quarters.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;That should come as no surprise. It seems entirely fitting that the nation which pioneered garden cities should embrace eco-towns 100-years later.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Other related&amp;nbsp;Planning Portal News documents:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115315410714.html" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115315410714.html"&gt;Applications lodged for pioneering eco-town&amp;nbsp;- 10 January 2008&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a _tesavedurl="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115315478416.html" href="http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/professionals/en/1115315478416.html"&gt;Eco-towns statement due soon as MPs voice concerns&amp;nbsp;- 7 February 2008&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/eco-town-concept-gathers-ground/</guid>

      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/eco-town-concept-gathers-ground/</link>

      <pubDate>Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:02:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2008-02-27T15:02:00</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Eco-town concept gathers ground </title>

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    <item>

      <author>Admin</author>

      <category domain="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/">Blog</category>

      <description>&lt;p&gt;Keiron Hart has been appointed Head of Insurance Services for Marishal Thompson Group, Kieron joins the company on 21st. January and will assume full operational responsibilities following his 3 month detailed induction programme. Keiron has 7 years Local Authority experience, 3 years in the private sector in the role of Senior Consulting Arborist and has worked as a Technical Arborist in the Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service. He has&amp;nbsp;a degree in Arboriculture from Aberdeen University and&amp;nbsp;HND in Arboriculture and Urban Woodland Management&amp;nbsp;from Houghall; he is a professional member of the Arboricultural Association M.Arbor.A.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Managing Director Gary Thompson welcomed Kieron to the Group and commented that Keiron's appointment and detailed induction represented a significant statement to the market that Marishal Thompson Group are in an expansive mode and&amp;nbsp;aim to employ the best in the industry. Being in control of our own destiny with no external&amp;nbsp;shareholders pulling our strings&amp;nbsp;ensures that we are able to take longterm perspectives and ensure we build an effective team for the future not just focus on short term gain &amp;nbsp;which we often see as a failure in our competitors.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;</description>

      <guid isPermaLink="true">http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/marishal-thompson-appoint-new-head-of-insurance-services/</guid>

      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/marishal-thompson-appoint-new-head-of-insurance-services/</link>

      <pubDate>Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:51:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2008-01-25T18:51:00</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Marishal Thompson Appoint new Head of Insurance Services</title>

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    <item>

      <author>Admin</author>

      <category domain="http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/">Blog</category>

      <description>&lt;p&gt;Over the past two months Marishal Thompson have re-developed their corporate web presence to reflect the growth of the company and the broad range of services we now offer.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Our core services are broken up into Consultancy Services and Support Services, of which some are further broken down into business areas. For example, clicking on Environmental on the menu to the left opens up a submenu containing our environmental services such as Ecology and Sustainability.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The News feed on the previous site had been very popular with both our staff and our clients, and we have augmented that in the re-design by adding this blog feature. All Marishal Thompson specific news will now feature in the blog on the front page of the site and our News section will feature industry news.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;We hope you find the site informative, friendly and easy to navigate. We'd love to hear your comments at &lt;a _tesavedurl="mailto:office@marishalthompson.co.uk" href="mailto:office@marishalthompson.co.uk"&gt;office@marishalthompson.co.uk&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

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      <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/marishal-thompson-re-vamp-website/</link>

      <pubDate>Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:33:00 GMT</pubDate>

      <pubDateParsed>2007-11-20T13:33:00</pubDateParsed>

      <title>Marishal Thompson Re-vamp Website</title>

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    <link>http://marishalthompson.co.uk/blog/</link>

    <title>Blog</title>

    <language>en-US</language>

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