Summer 2023 planning policy updates 

There have been a good deal of planning policy updates made or announced recently, here is a quick rundown of those that will see changes made to our content and services. 

Updated permitted development rights and prior approval applications 

The latest set of amendments to permitted development apply from 26 July 2023 onward and cover a range of subjects, but those that will see changes on Planning Portal are as follows. 

A new right for temporary recreational campsites 

This right will allow certain land to be used as a campsite for up to 60 days per calendar year, subject to limitations (e.g. no more than 50 pitches), and the provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. 

In most cases, those wishing to take advantage of this right will simply need to notify the Local Authority in writing (including a site plan) of the provisions being made and the dates of operation. 

Read the full details of the permitted development right. 

However, where any part of the land is in Flood Zone 2 or 3, proposals will require the prior approval of the Local Authority. This will require an application to be submitted, and a fee of £96 to be paid. 

Government provides an online service that allows you to find a location, and determine if it is within a flood zone: https://flood-map-for-planning.service.gov.uk/ 

We have a new fillable PDF form for this application type, and will add it to the list of outstanding types for future addition to the online service. 

Increased limits for temporary use of buildings or land for film-making purposes 

Permitted development rights currently allow for certain land to be temporarily used for commercial film-making, subject to a set of limitations on that use. 

These limitations are being loosened to allow the right to be more broadly used. 

More specifically, the restrictions on: 

• Time periods – Up to 12 months (in any 27-month period), increased from 9 months; 
• Maximum site area – 3 hectares, increased from 1.5 hectares; and 
• Maximum height – 20 metres, increased from 15 metres (when not within 10 metres of the curtilage of the land) 

We are updating the online and PDF application form questions to account for these changes. 

Draft amendments to planning application fees published 

A draft statutory instrument has now been laid in parliament that will trigger application fee increases once it has been approved and comes into effect. 

Parliament is on its summer recess, so we expect this to occur at some point after they return on 4 September 2023. The amendments themselves, will come into effect 28 days after the legislation is ‘made’. 

As previously communicated, this will see: 

• 25% increases to all current fee values (rising to 35% for major developments). 

• Removal of the ‘free go’ exemption for repeat applications (i.e. re-applying within 12 months). 
• Yearly inflation linked fee increases (capped at 10%) from 1 April 2025 onwards. 
• Introduction of a fee for prior approval applications for closed defence sites. 

This was based on the previous consultation, to which a response has now been published. 

All of the above will be accounted for in our fee calculators and schedules when the changes come into effect, and we will be communicating nearer the time on how we will deal with applications where payment is in progress at the point the change takes place. 

New consultation on expanded permitted development rights launched 

Government has published a consultation, open until 25 September 2023, on changes to many permitted development rights around creating housing, agricultural diversification, non-domestic development, and open prisons. 

It also proposes to the use of local design codes in certain rights, and issues a call for evidence from DEFRA for nature-based solutions, farm efficiency projects and diversification of farm incomes. 

We are reviewing the details of the consultation to identify areas of our content and online applications that we would need to update, and considering a response based on the impact of the proposed changes in regard to our provision of digital planning services.