Planning Portal Blog

Averley outlines planning proposals to local chief planners
England’s chief planner has outlined the government’s proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and given local authorities the opportunity to apply for funding under a pilot programme to apply design coding in their areas.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Nine Manchester councils to discuss joint plan
Nine councils from across Greater Manchester are set to consider a report this week on whether to form a joint committee to work on a long-term plan for homes, jobs and sustainable growth across their boroughs.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Tendring adopts part one of local plan
Tendring District Council has adopted the first part of its local plan after members at a full council meeting backed it.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

NPPF to emphasise placemaking
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has proposed a number of changes to England’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) so that it places ‘greater emphasis’ on beauty and placemaking.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

30-storey office block approved in City of London
The City of London Corporation has granted planning permission for a 30-storey office-led development within the Square Mile’s City Cluster.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Environment bill is delayed
The government has delayed the environment bill and the proposed legislation won’t return to the House of Commons for debate until the next Parliamentary session.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

New regulator to monitor safety of construction materials
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has announced the establishment of a national regulator to guarantee that materials used to construct homes would be made safer.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Pincher urges councils to keep local plans up to date
Housing minister Christopher Pincher has exhorted councils to keep their local plans up to date to guarantee that England ‘gets on with building the homes it needs and in the right places’.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Redevelopment of riverside site promises 2,500 homes
The masterplan for the regeneration of a key brownfield site in Cardiff with thousands of new homes and a significant amount of business floor space was unveiled for consultation by developer Vastint UK this week.
Roger Milne, The Planner

Summer quarter saw housing bounce back
Between July and September 2020, 45,000 homes were completed on site, according to building control figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Government says public should have right to ask councils to release land for redevelopment
The government has published for consultation proposals that would enable the public to challenge councils and other public bodies to release underused land for redevelopment.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Blueprint for flagship attraction for Merthyr Tydfil
Plans to transform Merthyr Tydfil’s Cyfarthfa Castle into an international-quality museum, set in an expanded 100-hectare public park, could draw more than half a million visitors each year and ‘energise the Valleys Regional Park concept’, according to a report published this week.
Roger Milne, The Planner

Section one of North Essex local plan deemed sound
A planning inspector has concluded that section one of the local plan put together by Tendring District, Braintree District and Colchester Borough councils is sound.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Leaseholders will be able to buy their homes as government announces reforms
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has set out measures that will enable leaseholders in England to extend their leases by a maximum term of 990 years at zero ground rent.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Kwarteng becomes energy secretary as Sharma takes on COP presidency full time
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a minor reshuffle to his cabinet. Alok Sharma will take on the role of president of the UN COP26 climate conference in Glasgow this November.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Prior approval requirements added to PDR for upward extensions
Another prior approval condition has been added to the permitted development right (PDR) that allows upwards extensions to be added to residential and commercial properties without planning permission in England.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Decline in the number of decisions granted by councils
In the year ending September 2020, district-level planning authorities in England granted 311,800 decisions, a decline of 12 per cent compared with the year ending September 2019.
Laura Edgar, The Planner

Wind farm off Norfolk coast gains approval
Energy secretary Alok Sharma has granted a development consent order for Ortsted Hornsea Project Three, an offshore wind farm comprising up to 231 turbines.
Laura Edgar, The Planner