Planning news – 29 September 2022

Gains in biodiversity not ‘comfortably achievable’, suggests survey
Research has found that just 13 per cent of land promoters and developers believe that the fulfilment of the proposed mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements is ‘comfortably achievable’.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

St Albans targets 2025 for local plan adoption
Councillors have approved a timetable for the production of the St Albans City and District Council Local Plan.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

PAC planning appeals performance nosedives
The Planning Appeals Committee (PAC) has reported that decision-making times on planning appeals have almost doubled since the start of the pandemic.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Kwarteng announces new bill to unpick ‘complex’ planning restrictions
Giving his ‘mini-budget’ in the House of Commons today (23 September) chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng announced that legislation will be introduced to reduce planning restrictions and laws derived from the European Union (EU) that ‘constrain our growth’.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Housing and planning advocate Roger Humber passes away
Roger Humber, the former chief executive of the Home Builders Federation (HBF) and one of the leading proponents of housing development and its links with planning in the past 40 years, has died at the age of 79.
Huw Morris, The Planner

News round-up
A round-up of planning news
– First Islands Forum to take place tomorrow
– Permission sought for Passivhaus community
– Liverpool Council approves waterfront restaurant plans
– St Mungo’s to rebuild homeless accommodation
– Shepshed homes get the green light
Laura Edgar, The Planner