News
Revisions announced to the National Planning Policy Framework
Last week the government published the latest version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). We take a look at what this means for developers and local planning authorities… The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) was revised on 12 December 2024. The Government stated that the revisions represented an ‘overhaul of the planning system to…
Read MoreApex Planning Consultants Proudly Sponsors Newport Pagnell Town Panthers U13
Apex Planning Consultants is thrilled to sponsor the away kit for Newport Pagnell Town Panthers Under 13’s, joining MLG Healthcare, who sponsors the team’s home kit. The directors of both companies, Paul Smith and Ali Mir, are greatly impressed with the players’ embodiment of values that resonate with their own businesses: teamwork, goal-oriented focus, and…
Read MoreNew Towns – The Future for New Housing Development?
Following the recent New Towns Taskforce visit to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, we consider how viable these new developments will be… New Towns Taskforce The chair of the new New Towns Taskforce, which held its first meeting in Milton Keynes, has identified that the area nearby has ‘considerable potential’ as the site of a New…
Read MoreBrownfield Passport to Planning and Development
Committed to getting Britain building again, the UK Government targets brownfield sites to access growth opportunities… The government is focusing on urban sites with a proposed ‘Brownfield Passport’, in a bid to speed up development on previously developed urban land. This could mean revitalising derelict or underused sites, advancing overlooked small plots, and optimising existing…
Read MoreGrey Area: What is the New Grey Belt?
If you’ve never encountered the phrase Grey Belt before, we attempt to explain it – along with other definitions of land designation such as Green Belt, Greenfield and Brownfield… The Newly Assigned Grey Belt If you read last month’s blog, you might be wondering where the term ‘Grey Belt’ came from. If you’ve not encountered…
Read MoreNew Government Sets Targets for Home Provision
Local authorities will be expected to plan for 370,000 homes a year under new proposals from Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Angela Rayner… The new Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced a number of planning system reforms, among them a recalculation of the required number of…
Read MoreThe Benefits of Marketing and Viability Studies in the Planning Arena
Proving viability when submitting a planning application can be key to getting to that all-important approval. Our latest blog explores the benefits of marketing and viability assessments within the context of planning applications… Marketing and carrying out a viability exercise are important parts of the preparation when submitting a planning application – especially when one…
Read MoreLegal Case throws Pre-application Confidentiality into Question
Seeking pre-application advice is common in planning, but a claim by a campaigner has shown that developers should not assume correspondence will be kept private… It’s not unusual – in fact it is par for the course – that developers seek informal advice from the local planning authority before submitting planning applications. This can save…
Read MoreFour Year Planning Enforcement Becomes Ten
A change in the length of time, from 4 to 10 years, that it takes for unauthorised developments to become lawful, could see an increase in enforcement action… New Rules could Catch-Out Unlawful Developments Historically, operational development (for example building an extension, or building a house and occupying it without planning permission) could take place…
Read MorePlanning for Health – How Did we Do?
A report 10 years ago stated that including green spaces in planning proposals could have a positive impact on public health…so what changes have been made? RIBA City Health Check No one has told the weather yet, but spring has officially arrived, and as the days get longer, and the sun – hopefully – comes…
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