The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA) came into force 26th December 2023. One of the major changes proposed was for the Section 171B (TCPA 1990) enforcement time limit of 4 years to be scrapped though no timetable was announced. The commencement date has now been published and: From 25 April 2024, section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is amended by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.Section 171B currently provides enforcement time limits of 4 years:The c ..read more

The Planning portal service fee was first introduced in 2018 (see our blog here) and means most planning applications are subject to a planning portal handling fee. This has been on the rise since inception and the new tax year has resulted in a further increase. The fee has risen by £6 to £70 including VAT. The Planning Portal argue it is vital to "sustainably enhance the dependable digital services that underpin the national built environment industry". You can read more here ..read more

The government has recently (19th December 2023) revised the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) along with issuing a written ministerial statement.Whilst there are some broad changes, the amendments primarily relate to housing development ..read more

On 6th December 2023 increased planning application fees will take effect.Application fees in England will be increasing by 25% across the board, which will rise to 35% for major schemes.‘Free go’ resubmission applications in England will also be removed. Applications that were already eligible for a free resubmission prior to the change (i.e. before 6th December 2023) will remain able to submit a free resubmission. Application fees will rise annually, linked to inflation (and capped at ..read more

On 6th December 2023 increased planning application fees will take effect.Application fees in England will be increasing by 25% across the board, which will rise to 35% for major schemes.‘Free go’ resubmission applications in England will also be removed. Applications that were already eligible for a free resubmission prior to the change (i.e. before 6th December 2023) will remain able to submit a free resubmission. Application fees will rise annually, linked to inflation (and capped at ..read more

The alleged planning breach was the conversion of a property in the London Borough of Lambeth into two self-contained flats. Lambeth London Borough Council had issued an enforcement notice which requested the building was converted back into a single dwelling.The house had been extended following planning approval in 2015. The extension was then converted to a self-contained, one-bedroom flat without planning permission, and was occupied by a family member. The flat was later let out to a couple ..read more

The current test for determining applications is “the determination must be made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise” (S38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The test will be changed, by section 83 (2) of the bill which states: “the determination must be made in accordance with the development plan and any national development management policies, unless material considerations strongly indicate otherwise.” The bill also ad ..read more

Image Credit: Jameson-surveyors ..read more

As we are making resolutions and preparing for the year to come, while waiting for the government’s response to the consultation on the August 2020 “Planning for the Future” white paper it is time to look back at 2021 and ask: What happened in the world of planning in 2021? In September, with the cabinet re-shuffle, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government became the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Michael Gove MP replaced Robert Jenricks MP and is ..read more

After years of drafting, examination by the Planning Inspectorate and a year of negotiations with the Secretary of State, the Mayor of London has finally adopted the new London Plan 2021 March 2nd (2021). It is worth noting, the final adoption is only two months ahead of the London Mayoral election to select the new London Mayor (delayed by one year).  The New London Plan sets the Mayor’s strategic vision for the growth of London for the next 20-25 years.  The main changes to th ..read more