The plastic bag charge doubles to 10p from today FROM today (Friday, May 21) the cost of getting a plastic bag to put your shopping in is doubling to 10p. And the levy will now apply to ALL shops - not just the bigger retailer with more than 250 staff as was the case with the previous 5p charge, which was introduced in October 2015. Environmentalist welcome the increased charge as a way of cutting down on single use plastics. But the TaxPayers Alliance (TPA) has calculated the increased rate will cost consumers £1.03 billion over the next decade. It argues that as well as the 10p levy itself, shoppers face hidden costs like the increased use of paper bags and VAT paid on the charge, which they estimate will add around £45 to the cost of living for each household.
May 21, 2021
CPREâs Tom Fyans has accused the UK Government of endlessly consulting on a Deposit Return Scheme
The campaigns and policy director of a UK countryside charity has accused the Government of âtinkering around the edges of [a] broken waste and recycling systemâ, after Englandâs plastics bag charge was increased to 10p ($0.14).
Despite accepting that the increased carrier bag charge is a welcome introduction, CPREâs Tom Fyans lambasted the Government for a pattern of slow progress.
âProgress to halt the flow of plastics and waste into our countryside has been painfully slow â it’s taken three years just to amend the plastics bag charge â a pattern of slow progress thatâs all too familiar,â he commented. âNow, the Government looks set to endlessly consult on a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) rather than getting on with it.
By Joey Gardiner2021-05-13T05:00:00+01:00
Ex-PM attacks government proposals as Queen’s Speech puts planning Bill at centre of legislative timetable
Senior figures in the housebuilding industry have called for urgent clarity over the government’s proposed planning reforms in the wake of Tuesday’s Queen’s Speech, with a broadside against the proposals from Theresa May giving a taste of the likely opposition the changes will face in parliament.
While many developers have indicated support in principle for the reforms, which will see councils forced to allocate “growth” zones with automatic outline permissions, planning and environmental groups have raised serious concerns.
By Joey Gardiner2021-05-11T05:00:00+01:00
Local authorities want to levy council tax on homes granted planning but not built out
Council leaders have called for new powers to charge developers council tax on unbuilt homes in order to encourage them to build out planning permissions more quickly.
The Local Government Association (LGA) said it wanted the government to include new powers for councils to tax developers in the forthcoming planning Bill, which is expected to form a key part of the Queen’s Speech later today.
Details of reforms to the planning system are expected to be a key part of the Queen’s Speech today
BBC News
Published
image copyrightPA Media
MPs will vote on a controversial overhaul of England s planning system within the next year, the government has confirmed.
The Planning Bill - announced at the Queen s Speech - aims to stop local opponents blocking development in designated growth zones .
Ministers said the plan would make it easier to hit house-building targets.
But critics said it would sideline locals - with one rural charity warning of a free for all for development .
The government also confirmed it intended to make changes to the leasehold system - including new curbs on ground rents - in the coming year.