RESIDENTS had a second chance last night to view the plans for a scheme to build 700 homes on a quarry site in Bradford. The Marshall family, which owns the Bolton Woods quarry, arranged the second public exhibition, after calls from local councillors and the community to hold another consultation session. They have been looking at alternative uses for the quarry, which supplies Yorkshire stone, as its long-term future is no longer viable. Read more [...]

Parliament will not be relocated out of London during a multi-billion pound refurbishment – but could move to the Foreign Office, Department of Health or Treasury. MPs and peers have been told that a report on long-awaited plans to renovate the Palace of Westminster is likely to include new options to shift their office space to Whitehall departments.The final report is not due to be published until March, but Commons leader Chris Grayling, who Read more [...]

In the lower Derwent Valley on the approach to Tyneside, a tale of two landowners unfolded in the 18th century. The Bowes at Gibside and the Claverings at Axwell lorded it from their great halls and parklands. Under the National Trust, Gibside has taken on a new role as a major visitor attraction. But Axwell Hall, the Palladian seat of the Claverings, went out of use in 1981 and has lain empty ever since. But at last a new life beckons for the grade II-star listed building, with work now due to Read more [...]

A PUBLIC inquiry into a decision to refuse planning permission for more than 30 homes has started today. Reporter Robert Pritchard is at the inquiry today. Click here to follow live updates from him on Twitter Story Homes has appealed to the Planning Inspectorate after Barrow Borough Council’s planning committee rejected an application to build 38 homes on land off Rating Lane and Manor Road, close to Furness Abbey. The inquiry is being held in Barrow Town Hall and is open to the public. So Read more [...]

CONCERNED residents have voiced their anger against a housing estate that could be built on a greenfield site. A “residential development” plan of up to 115 houses near Cwmgelli, Blackwood was lodged by Gwent Investments Ltd last year, provoking a 350 signature petition from livid residents. The application was unanimously denied by planning committee on Wednesday November 4 as the land was identified as “green wedge” under the council’s local development plan Read more [...]

Average house price: £233,226 A farmers’ market with artisan breads, meat and fish befits this Saxon hilltop town, famous for Gold Hill as featured in Ridley Scott’s 1973 Hovis advert. Its pubs have roaring fires and traditional ales, and many of the cafés, shops and restaurants are independent. “The huge attraction is the wonderful views across the Blackmore Vale,” says Fiona Pengelly of Strutt Parker. Shaftesbury also has a thriving arts centre run by volunteers offering year-round Read more [...]

Take a look at the stories from around our area and world that are making news today.Gov. Scott Walker's Wauwatosa home listed for sale: Meg Jones of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writes: "Gov. Scott Walker has put his home — the one in Wauwatosa, not the governor's mansion — up for sale. The two-story, three-bedroom house has been listed by Delafield Read more [...]

Long-awaited plans to demolish a fire-gutted former psychiatric hospital near Duston and replace the site with flats and houses have been submitted. Irish firm WN Developments took over the St Crispin’s Hospital land in 2009 and announced major plans to bring it back to life. Hilary Harman and Seamus Neville, owner of development company WN Developments, pictured at the site back in 2012 when the firm first announced plans to build "luxury appartments" there. Read more [...]

A row of empty Grade II-listed Georgian town houses in Toxteth are to be brought back into use as part of a move to ‘Stop the Rot’ of unused properties in the city. Eight homes, on the corner of Percy Street and Upper Parliament Street have been empty since 2008 - with their beautiful, but boarded up, exteriors slowly fading. However, Liverpool City Council have revealed their plans which could see the buildings restored and brought back into residential use. Constructed of hand made brick Read more [...]

Talgarth Road in west London is one of the capital’s busiest, dirtiest thoroughfares. With three lanes of traffic thundering to and from the M4, it’s easy to miss the row of eight Arts and Crafts-era houses when driving past Barons Court station. For architect Marius Barran and his wife Veronica, living in one of these historic homes, built in 1891 as artists’ studios, is worth the inconvenience of the busy road. Veronica first spotted the house online when the couple were looking to move Read more [...]