On 30 July, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government published its proposed amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework ("NPPF"), alongside a detailed public consultation, and numerous associated...more
Having promised to make planning reform one of its high priority objectives, the newly formed UK government has certainly leapt out of the gates at full pace. With no shortage of available summaries on the proposed changes,...more
2024 continues to deliver waves of ESG-related news, updates and developments. In this latest ESG Update Robert Gowing considers the challenges inherent in the planning system when it comes to adapting or upgrading heritage...more
The new Biodiversity Net Gain regime comes into force in February 2024 and should be front of mind for those in the development industry. Our Planning team has prepared a Real Estate Horizons flowchart to help you to navigate...more
The new Biodiversity Net Gain regime comes into force in February 2024 and should be front of mind for those in the development industry. Our Planning team has prepared a Real Estate Horizons one page summary to help you to...more
Over the last year, planning, and more particularly planning reform, has become an increasingly hot political topic, even managing to grab headlines in the press and featuring in many of the speeches and promises made by the...more
Our Real Estate Horizons one page summary explains what the new BNG requirement is, when it’s relevant and the options available for satisfying it, and provide details on how the biodiversity value of a site is calculated...more
On 26 October 2023 the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill received Royal Assent and became an Act of Parliament (“the Act” or “LURA”). The Act introduces wide-ranging reforms in a number of areas, including planning,...more
In September 2020, faced with the impacts of a global pandemic exacerbating the problems of an already struggling high-street, the UK government introduced a significant shake-up of the Use Classes Order with the creation of...more
Michael Gove’s Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) seems determined to keep the planning and development industry busy reading over the rest of the summer. Last week saw the publication of three new...more
Last week saw the Secretary of State’s much anticipated call-in decision on the proposals by Marks and Spencer to demolish and rebuild its flagship store at the Marble Arch end of Oxford Street, London. Against the...more
The government’s newly formed Older People’s Housing Taskforce held its inaugural meeting in London on 17 May. Led by Professor Julienne Meyer, a former nurse with an extensive career in researching care for older people,...more
“Faster, more flexible, more certain, and better quality.” The National Infrastructure Commission today (18 April 2023) published its vision for a reformed consenting regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects...more
For those of us with a keen interest in heritage planning, after 2021 delivered blockbuster decisions such as the Court of Appeal in Bramshill and the High Court quashing of the A303 Stonehenge Tunnel Development Consent...more
Following a hot summer of even more heated debates, Elizabeth Truss will visit Balmoral on Tuesday 6 September where the Queen will confirm her position as the new prime minister for the UK. Beyond the headline grabbing...more
The penultimate article in our series on the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill looks at the proposed replacement of the environmental assessment regimes, and key changes to heritage protection. Whilst lacking detail, the...more
The House of Lords has concluded its review of the Building Safety Bill. The final set of amendments will now be considered in the House of Commons before the bill is ready to receive royal assent. The changes include new...more
The government has launched a consultation on the implementation and proposed regulations to implement mandatory biodiversity net gain (BNG) introduced under the Environment Act 2021. When these come into effect, virtually...more
Appearing in three Queen’s speeches, and then carried over a number of different parliamentary sessions, the Environment Bill was at last given Royal Assent on 9 November 2021. Arguably a milestone for environmental...more
Rishi Sunak’s Autumn Budget has confirmed the new residential property developer tax will be charged at 4% on residential developer profits over £25m from April 2022. The details follow the recent consultations on draft...more