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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2020 – A Year in Planning

Apex Planning Review 2020

2020 was quite a year to say the least. We take a look at how the planning world has responded to the pandemic and how it is looking to the future… Quarter One 2020 Take yourself back to almost a year ago. Back in February 2020, we were hearing tales of a terrible virus in…

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The need for speed in planning

Apex Planning process

The latest consultation looks at speeding up the planning process and making it more flexible, but will the proposed moves make much of a difference? It’s all change (again!) for the planning process, but is this a good or bad thing? Following on from the white paper that we have considered over the past few…

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PM’s Build, Build, Build plans open up possibilities

yellow-work-lamps-turned-on Permitted development updates

As the government announces a raft of new permitted development rights, it will be interesting to see how lockdown could change the face of property development… At the beginning of this month, Boris Johnson made his ‘Build, Build, Build’ announcement, which Number 10 claimed represented the “most radical reforms to our planning system since the…

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Improve Don’t Move

Apex Improve don't move showing Modern Sunroom external

The COVID-19 lockdown will have made many homeowners realise that they lack space, but with uncertainty about the economy, it could be wise to improve your home, rather than moving. We look at the planning considerations you will need to take into account… After two months of having the whole family at home, with kids…

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Let’s talk about planning – Conservative Party Conference

Planning

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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Do you need planning permission for farm buildings?

Planning Permission on Farmland

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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Do I need planning permission for change of use?

Apex Planning Change of Use

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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Do I need planning permission for a garage?

Planning permission for a garage

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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Do I need planning permission for solar panels?

Solar Panels

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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