Category Archives: Planning news

The government is revoking the regional planning policy document, the South East Plan. The revocation will take effect on 25 March. This is part of the government’s drive towards ‘localism’. Councils in the South East will have more latitude to … Continue reading →

A recent clear out of the Speer Dade archives turned up an old copy of ‘Planning’ magazine dated 8th January 1999. Fascinating to see what has changed over the last 14 years but a quick scan of the mag reveals … Continue reading →

The government is introducing a new permitted development which it says will come into force in spring of this year, giving planning permission for changes of use from class B1(a) (offices) to class C3 (dwelling houses). The new permitted right … Continue reading →

Latest statistics for planning applications in England have just been published. They cover the quarter to September 2012. The figures show a decrease in the number applications, compared with the previous year, of 2%. About 80% of applications were approved … Continue reading →

The government is changing the rules on what has to be included in planning applications. It will no longer make people who apply for outline planning permission show approximately where buildings would be, where the access would be and specify … Continue reading →

Recent talk by government about increasing the size of extensions to houses that might be allowed as permitted development might be inspiring those with intentions to build large extensions. But less inspiring is the fact that Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) … Continue reading →

Parish councils and other local bodies can draw up a new type of policy document – a neighbourhood plan – which will be part of the basis for planning permission decisions. These plans are being drawn up around the country … Continue reading →

A planning appeal (not one of ours) has been turned down to re-build two houses demolished in the 1970s. The appellant argued that government policy in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) allowed for replacement houses. The NPPF came into … Continue reading →

Nothing earth shattering emerged in the Chancellor’s autumn statement for planning at the coal face. There were a couple of references to planning. The statement claimed the government has delivered a ‘root and branch reform of the planning system, reducing … Continue reading →

The planning minister has floated the idea that 1,500 square miles of countryside has to be built on to meet housing needs. People, he says, will have to accept building on Greenfield sites, if their children and grandchildren are to … Continue reading →