Clearview Midlands January 2014 - Issue 146 | Page 71

BUSINESSNEWS

HOUSING ACTIVITY
EASES A LITTLE
NHBC data for the three months to the end of October 2013 shows
31,600 housing starts, 19.0% above the same period in 2012, albeit
down 10% from the recent peak seen in July 2013.
The affordable sector (24.6% up) performed relatively stronger than
the private sector (17.0% up).
26,050 homes were completed in the three-month period, 3.1% more
than the same period in 2012. Meanwhile plots under construction
now sit at 140,900, 8.6% higher compared to the same time last year.

SIMPLIFIED PLANNING TO SPEED UP DELIVERY
OF NEW HOMES AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOBS
New measures will speed up the delivery
of homes by cutting down unnecessary
planning processes and providing more
certainty about where sensible development
should take place.
Proposals outlined will boost housebuilding
and support businesses keen to expand by
removing delays from the planning system,

stopping burdensome conditions and cutting
the costly red tape often faced by applicants.
The changes will also provide more certainty
for communities and developers by proposing
to make it a legal requirement for local
authorities to have a Local Plan in place. This
will ensure that councils engage with local
people about where homes, businesses and

services for their area should be located in the
future.
Planning Minister Nick Boles said: “These
proposals mark an important next step in
streamlining the planning system and ensuring
it is able to work efficiently to support the
development of new homes, infrastructure and
jobs we need.”

DRIVER AND VEHICLE
STANDARDS AGENCY NAMED
A new agency with
responsibility for maintaining
vehicle standards has been
launched as the Driver and
Vehicle Standards Agency
(DVSA), Transport Minister
Robert Goodwill has
announced.
The new agency, which employs
4,600 people throughout the UK,
will replace the Driving Standards
Agency (DSA) and the Vehicle
and Operator Services Agency
(VOSA) with responsibilities for
setting, testing and enforcing
driver and vehicle standards in
Great Britain.
Robert Goodwill said: “In June
the department announced that
DSA and VOSA would merge to
form a new agency. This decision
was made following the motoring
services strategy consultation,

and is a demonstration of the
government’s commitment to put
customers and businesses at the
heart of its services.
“The two organisations have
a history of working closely
together and the merger is an
opportunity for the DVSA to
provide even better and more
efficient customer service to
motorists and commercial
operators. I fully support the new
agency and look forward to seeing
the DVSA take shape from April
2014.”
There will be a gradual
introduction of the new agency
name ahead of the formal launch
in April 2014, with no change
to the level or quality of services
during the transition period.
DSA and VOSA will be
incorporated within the new

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agency and the new branding
will reflect this until their services
and trading funds are brought
together over the next financial
year.
DSA improves road safety in
Great Britain by setting standards
for driving and motorcycling, and
for the education and training
of drivers and riders. The agency
also carries out driving and riding
tests.
VOSA provides a range
of licensing, testing and
enforcement services with
the aim of improving the
roadworthiness standards of
vehicles, ensuring the compliance
of operators and drivers with
road traffic legislation, and
supporting the independent
Traffic Commissioners. The
DVSA will have a broad range

of responsibilities, including
processing applications for
licences to operate lorries and
buses, operating testing schemes
for all vehicles, and enforcing the
law on vehicles to ensure that they
comply with legal standards and
regulations.
The agency will also enforce
drivers’ hours and licensing
requirements, provide training
and advice for commercial
operators, investigate vehicle
accidents, defects and recalls, and
run tests for instructors of large
goods vehicles, as well as driver
trainers.
To ensure costs are kept as low
as possible there will be a phased
approach to the introduction of
the new branding over the next
financial year, where items will be
replaced when stocks run out.

JAN 2014

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