Planning Law
“Vital” changes needed to NPPF, groups claim
The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) requires a number of “vital” improvements in order to be to truly fit for purpose, a number of organisations have said. In a joint letter penned to the Government, planning professionals, transport authorities, charities and various other groups h....
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Access to transport suffers as only half of new homes are built near to a train station
Only half of the new homes being built in England’s fastest growing cities are sited within 2km of a train station. That is according to a recently published report. The Royal Town Planning Institute’s (RTPI) study looks at the locations for new homes in cities such as Leeds, Newcastle and Br....
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Concerns that permitted development rules are producing ‘poor quality’ residential homes
In recent days, fresh concerns have been raised that permitted development rules are having a negative effect on Britain’s housing market by encouraging too many ‘poor quality’ office-to-residential conversions which are not properly overseen by planners. Under the rules governing permitted....
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“Fresh thinking” needed on Green Belt policy
A briefing document published by the Landscape Institute in recent days has called for “fresh thinking” on the UK’s Green Belt policy, amid concerns that existing laws are too vague and fail to address a number of important environmental issues. Towards the end of April, the Institute laid ....
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Consultation unveiled on proposed new cladding rules
Prior to his appointment as Home Secretary on Monday 30 April 2018, former Housing Secretary Sajid Javid unveiled an important consultation on new proposals to improve fire and safety testing on cladding systems installed on residential buildings. It is expected that the consultation, which comes....
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LGA voices concerns over permitted development changes for rural communities
In recent days, Housing Minister Dominic Raab has unveiled important changes to permitted development rights affecting home and land owners who live in rural areas. Previously, farm owners were able to convert existing agricultural buildings into a maximum of three houses without seeking planning....
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Important new leasehold changes could affect property developers
Property developers who are dependent on payments from leases to bolster their operations could be adversely affected by leasehold changes which appeared in the Government’s Housing White Paper in February. Currently, there are an estimated four million residential leasehold properties in the U....
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When nature fights back against development
When developers are looking to break ground on a new site, as part of the planning process, they are often required to conduct an environmental review of the site to ensure protected species are not present. Now pop star Ed Sheeran has been caught out in this process as his plans to construct a w....
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PM unveils plans to “rewrite the rules” on planning law
In recent days, Prime Minister Theresa May has unveiled Government proposals to “rewrite the rules” on planning law in a bid to try and solve the UK’s so-called housing crisis. In a speech delivered in London on Monday 5 March 2018, Mrs May said that the Government would work to restore the....
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423,000 homes with planning permission approved are still waiting to be built, research reveals
Research published by the Local Government Association (LGA) in recent days has revealed that the UK has a backlog of more than 423,000 new homes with pre-approved planning permission that are still waiting to be built. The LGA’s report suggests that this ‘backlog’ has grown by almost 16 pe....
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When is a house not a house…?
Neighbours of one couple in Leicester were probably surprised to find that their garage was, in fact, a home but they are not alone. Dr Reeta Herzallah and Hamdi Almasri had managed to conceal the home for a couple of years by putting a garage door across the front of the property but in October ....
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Support growing for London ‘upward extension’ scheme
In recent days, Housing Secretary Sajid Javid has extended his backing to an innovative ‘upward extension’ scheme proposed for London, which would make it easier for City businesses and homeowners to add additional floors to their properties. The proposed policy, which was initially consulted....
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Important changes to planning law just around the corner
On 23 February 2018, new legislation will take effect which will enable developers to purchase ‘development-ready’ land from local authorities, as authorities will be able to ‘pass-on’ the planning permission required in order to build on such land in instances where they have already previo....
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Permitted development law – a help or a hindrance?
In 2013, a landmark legislative change known as ‘permitted development’ was introduced, enabling property developers to convert commercial buildings into residential flats without having to go through the traditional planning process. The new rules were initially introduced in a bid to combat....
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‘Agent-of-change’ principle should be compulsory for property developers, say MPs and groups
MPs and influential groups have extended their backing to calls for a new law which would force property developers to consider the impact of all planned developments on pre-existing businesses in the surrounding area before pushing ahead with their plans. The so-called ‘agent-of-change’ prin....
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Neighbourhood Plans – your chance to have your say
Introduced under the Localism Act 2011, neighbourhood planning gives communities the right to have a say in shaping the development of their local area. In simple terms, Neighbourhood Development Plans become part of the Local Plan, and the policies contained within them are then used in the dete....
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The Green Belt – should we use it to solve the housing crisis?
The concept of a ‘green belt’ was first put forward by the Greater London Regional Planning Committee back in 1935 as a way of restricting urban growth. Their proposal was to provide “a reserve supply of public open spaces and of recreational areas and to establish a green belt or girdle of op....
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My Planning Application has been refused, what can I do?
It can come as a nasty blow to hear that your Planning Application has been refused, and you’ll be left wondering what your options are. Your local planning authority must provide reasons in writing as to why your application was turned down, so it’s worth going through these thoroughly to get a....
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What do planning officers take into consideration when reaching their decisions?
When you put in a planning application, the Planning team will firstly check that you have correctly completed all the forms, attached the required plans and paid the correct fee. Today, most planning applications are made online. Once you have submitted your application, you will get a confirmat....
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A Planning Application has been made near my home/business premises, what can I do?
It can come as a shock to know that a Planning Application has been made near your home or business premises. Your first reaction might well be panic and a feeling of helplessness, and you may feel that if it goes ahead it will cause you problems and reduce the value of your property. The best advic....
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