It’s conference season and, aside from the obvious, planning was a hot topic at the Conservative Party Conference. Let’s see what was on the agenda… Party conferences are rich fodder for anyone interested in what might be on the horizon for the planning arena. For a start, it’s worth taking a look to see what…
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New planning guidance encourages developers to consider the smallest of local residents in its plans, as new rules recommend ways to help local wildlife… Hedgehog highways, frog bridges and even bat bridges – these are the considerations developers are being called to look at if they want to lessen the impact on local wildlife. Former…
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Farms may have acres of land to play with, but they are still subject to planning regulations… Continuing our easy-guides to planning permission, this month we take a look at farm buildings. Some people may look at the vast expanse of fields on a farm and assume that the owners have free rein to do…
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Converting a garage into an office, or changing an office building into a house? Find out whether you need planning permission with this easy guide… To understand the rules of ‘Change of Use’, you need to be aware of the different Use Classes applied to different kinds of properties. The Town and Country Planning (Use…
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Press Release – 6 June 2019 Paul Smith, Director of Apex Planning Consultants, has donated £1000 to the Neonatal Unit of the Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust at a cheque handover with his family on Monday 3 June [pictured]. Apex Planning Consultants is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month and the Neonatal unit…
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Are you hoping to add a detached garage to your property – whether it is to store your car or, like so many families nowadays, to act as a storage facility housing bikes, scooters and the tumble dryer! Follow our simple guide to work out if you need planning permission for this extra space… Detached…
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Installing solar panels on your home or garage may sound an attractive proposition – after all, you can save money on your energy bills – but will you need permission to put them in place? Find out more… The good news is that since 2008, solar panels intended for installation on residential land and buildings…
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Thanks to ‘permitted’ development, not all extensions require the homeowner to acquire planning permission – speeding up the whole process and cutting out administration costs. We take you through the requirements… Back in 2015, the government introduced updated householder permitted development rights, in a bid to speed up the planning process and stop local authorities’…
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As the Brexit deadline looms ever nearer, but with no proper conclusion in sight, we look at what effect the UK leaving Europe may have on construction… The housing market With the level of uncertainty, it is true that there has been a slowdown in the housing market recently, however estate agents and surveyors continue…
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We look back at the changes 2018 has brought to the planning arena, and look into our crystal ball to consider what may happen in 2019… 2018 a year in retrospect This time last year, we saw a new housing and planning minister in the shape of Dominic Raab. He wasn’t to be…
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