Looking good – a new national design code

National Design Code

Beauty and placemaking are the focus of proposed changes to the NPPF and a draft national design code Tree-lined streets are just one of the changes we can expect to see on new developments in the future if the government’s draft proposals pan out. Following the publication of the Planning White Paper Planning for the…

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Walk on the wild side – planning for wildlife

Apex Planning for Wildlife

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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A Year of Change

Planning and architecture

  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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Planning Conditions – A Guide

Planning Permission

  We continue our series of blogs covering the ins and out of planning applications. This month, we look at planning conditions…   Not all planning permission is given automatically. Some applications will be granted permission, but with several conditions attached. Here, we answer some common questions about planning conditions: I have planning permission, but…

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Housing Provision for the Elderly

Elderly couple

Care needs to be taken to ensure there are residences for older residents – and it is a particular issue for retiring farmers… We have heard that the Communities and Local Government Committee (CLGC) has called for a review of the provision of housing for older people. Over past years, the number of bungalows being…

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Awaiting the National Planning Policy Framework

NPPF

The planning industry is waiting for the draft of the National Planning Policy Framework to appear before Easter… Those of us in the planning and development industry are waiting with bated breath for the Government to publish the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), which is expected before Easter (according to a letter from…

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High Court Decision and Rural Areas

What does the recent High Court decision mean for rural areas? The recent High Court decision (Dartford Borough Council v Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government) has held that the definition of ‘previously developed land’ (also known as brownfield land) within Annex 2 of the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) excludes residential…

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A Great Start To The New Year

Affordable Housing

2016 certainly appears to have got off to a good start – with the announcement from David Cameron that the Government has promised to directly commission the building of homes on publicly owned land. This, he said, would lead to quality homes – many of which would involve smaller building companies – being built at…

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