AquaConsoil happens roughly every 2.5 years, and such a time period enables participants and researchers to evaluate progress or otherwise on technical and policy issues relating to water and soil clean-up, amongst other things, as Ian Grant reports.
Ministers have accepted most of Lord Taylor's recommendations on planning guidance following consultations but are resisting signposting guidance produced by expert sectors.
The planning minister says the Government was wrong to let people believe neighbourhood plans were created to allow them to do what they want, when the reality is about delivering things, not what would be delivered.
The planning minister has told opponents of greenfield-first to engage with ministers, as two more communities approve neighbourhood plans, amidst signs DCLG sees them as a way to overcome opposition to sprawl.
Scotland's new draft planning policies include new support for town-centre-first, but only weak support for brownfield and, despite strong commitment to tackling climate change, are prepared to support car-dependent, greenfield development.
Eric Pickles has responded to the huge row created by his proposal for temporary exemptions of many home extensions from planning permission with a compromise position.
A major report by European auditors is highly critical of the way brownfield projects have been supported by structural funds, although it still supports greenfield protection and brownfield-first.
The land condition specialists' organisation has told DEFRA it has three major concerns at the way the Category 4 Screening Level project is being managed.
Soil and water clean-up sector on the rise
