The High Court has upheld planning permission for a mixed-use library and residential scheme in north west London despite an “unfortunate inaccuracy” in an officer’s report on whether the proposal conflicted with local policies on amenity space provision.
Rebound in housing starts and completions since first lockdown, new figures show
Housing starts and completions bounced back following a collapse during the first lockdown, according to the latest government figures for the third quarter of last year.
High Court quashes council’s permission for bar to drop conditions limiting opening hours and noise after “multiple errors”
A High Court judge has quashed a West Sussex council’s decision to allow a bar next door to an ongoing residential development to drop planning conditions limiting its opening hours and noise from the premises, after finding that the authority committed “multiple errors” in granting the consent.
37-storey 929-home Surrey development refused against officer advice
A 929-home high-rise development in Woking town centre has been rejected by committee members against officer advice, with its potential impacts on daylight levels and neighbour privacy among the reasons for refusal.
Coventry council rejects high-rise scheme for up to 731 homes against officer advice
Coventry City Council planning committee has rejected an officer’s recommendation to delegate the granting of planning permission for a proposed 731-home mixed development which lacked affordable housing, and has instead voted unanimously to reject it.
Inspector cites ‘agent of change’ principle in refusal of residential scheme next to theatre
A planning inspector has dismissed an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for a residential development adjoining a theatre in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, in what campaigners claim is the first instance of the revised National Planning Policy Framework’s (NPPF) “agent of change” principle being cited in relation to a theatre.
Reducing scope to change local plans during examination would help accelerate the process, says PINS chief
Changing local plan examinations to allow “less scope for making significant changes” to submitted plans during the process would help to ensure compliance with the government’s proposed new nine-month limit on such inquiries, the Planning Inspectorate’s (PINS) local plans chief has said.
UK faces ‘biggest biggest population fall since Second World War’
News of demographic changes leads our round-up of today’s newspapers and other media outlets
How the latest London Plan changes will affect development
London’s mayor has made what he intends to be the final changes to his next strategic plan for the capital. They offer more scope for development of industrial land for housing and green belt release, but a tougher environment for tall building development.
Government ‘shares vision of planning system that delivers on design and environment’, says Pincher
Housing minister Christopher Pincher and England’s chief planner Joanna Averley defended charges that the government’s proposed planning changes fail to address democratic, social and sustainability concerns, in an online debate earlier today.