planning

Exeter-based Chartered financial planners Shipman Financial Planning have been recognised as best in their field by a prestigious business magazine read across the world.

Shipman - based off Southernhay, Exeter - has been voted Client Choice winner of the 2014 Corporate Intl Magazine Global Award: Family Business Advisory Firm of the Year in England.

The award is given to companies who, as well as being successful over the past 12 months, have also shown "excellence not only in expertise but in service".

Corporate Intl magazine has 350,000 subscribers in 150...

Thousands of home extensions, which were previously blocked because they were unsightly, out of character with a local area or invaded neighbours' privacy, may now go ahead unimpeded under plans to extend permitted development rights, the Local Government Association (LGA) warns.

The LGA is also concerned that extensions which would previously have been improved through the planning process in order to make them acceptable to neighbours and reduce their negative impact on local amenities will in future go ahead unaltered, resulting in inappropriate development and...

Over 5.5 million properties in England and Wales are at risk of flooding from rivers, the sea or surface water. That’s one in six, which means there’s a high chance one of these properties is your home or business. Here the Environment Agency offers some advice on how to reduce the damage to your property by a little planning.

It pays to prepare for flooding

If your home or business is flooded it can be costly, not just in terms of money and time but also inconvenience and heartache.

While it’s impossible to completely flood-proof a property,...