In May 2013 the Government eased planning rules to allow offices to be converted into homes without the need for planning permission. The permitted development right was implemented for an initial period of three years, and despite further rights being introduced in April 2015 to allow the use of storage or distribution buildings to be […]
News
Proposed adoption of CIL delayed owing to changes in affordable housing thresholds
On 31st July this year, the Government lost a High Court challenge to its change to national guidance in respect of affordable housing thresholds to small scale residential developments by way of a Ministerial Statement in November 2014. This decision reversed the position regarding when affordable housing contributions should be payable on schemes of 10 […]
Government announces further Green Belt protection
In a letter issued to chief planning officers in England today, the Government has set out a new planning policy statement on Green Belt protection and intentional unauthorised development which comes in to immediate effect. This statement sets out changes to national planning policy to make intentional unauthorised development a material consideration, and also to provide […]
Rural Starter Homes Initiative Proposed
Last week the Treasury and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs unveiled a package of proposals aimed at boosting rural productivity, a key element of which would involve amending planning rules to allow ‘starter homes’ to be built on Rural Exception Sites for the first time. Starter Homes should be offered for sale at a […]
Inspector Issues Final Report on West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan
Following a lengthy period of Examination which has entailed several rounds of further consultation on proposed modifications, Planning Inspector Paul Crysell has now published his final Report which concludes that the West Dorset, Weymouth & Portland Local Plan ‘provides an appropriate basis for the planning of the District and Borough Councils providing a number of […]
Proposed ‘Digital Village’ linked to Bournemouth University and the Arts University of Bournemouth
The Borough of Poole has published a draft of a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) for Talbot Village, which is subject to six weeks public consultation. The SPD supports the development of: A digital village of up to 25,000m2 of gross employment floor space focussed on creative and digital industries, as well as social and health care. […]