The local authorities of Bournemouth, Christchurch, East Dorset and Poole have recently announced that they are jointly exploring the possibility of forming a new single Council to cover their respective geographic areas. This would see all functions undertaken by the existing councils in these areas, including services currently run by Dorset County Council in Christchurch […]
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RTPI President visits the South West Region
The President of the Royal Town Planning Institute, Janet Askew, recently met with planners and council leaders in and around Bournemouth as part of a two day tour of the South West region. Janet also took the opportunity to visit the Boscombe Regeneration Scheme and Poole Bridge Regeneration Initiative, ending the tour in Purbeck. Brett […]
Deadline looms for expiry of some permitted development rights
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 […]
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 […]