Following the adoption of the Central Bedfordshire Local Plan in 2021 and in accordance with  Local Plan Policy SP1a which undertakes that the Council will commence a Partial Review of the Plan within six months of adoption, the Council have now published a draft timetable for the Review as follows: Commence evidence gathering for [...]

As 2021 draws to an end it will be interesting to see how the government proposes to move forward with Planning and Housing in 2022. News and updates are set out in our quarterly update below: National Planning The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are expected to publish a White Paper early [...]

The government are proposing a strategic approach to planning for growth and infrastructure to realise the economic and cultural potential of the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and transform it into one of the world’s premier growth corridors and a world-leader in sustainability. The government have now launched the Creating a vision for the Oxford-Cambridge Arc consultation. This consultation [...]

The Central Bedfordshire Local Plan was submitted to the government for examination in April 2018. Two Inspectors appointed to examine the Local Plan held hearing sessions between 21 May and 25 July 2019 and 8 December and 18 December 2020. The Inspectors have now published their Final Report which can be viewed here. Overall, [...]

From 28 June 2021 First Homes will be part of the Planning System.  This change to National Planning Policy requires that at least 25% of all affordable homes delivered through developer contributions should be sold as First Homes. First Homes are discounted market sale units which: a) must be discounted by a minimum of [...]

New Permitted Development rights for the change from Class E uses to dwellings has now been published. In September 2020 Use Class E (Commercial, Business and Service) was introduced.  This includes: E(a) Display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food E(b) Sale of food and drink for consumption (mostly) on the premises E(c) Provision of: E(c)(i) Financial [...]

The East West Rail (EWR) Project has launched a consultation on the proposals for this once in a generation opportunity to provide frequent, fast and reliable rail links for communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, connecting people with the things that matter most to them.  This will provide the local transport connectivity across [...]

Paragraph 170 of the National Planning Policy Framework seeks to protect and enhance valued landsacpes.  This has been the subject of a number of appeal decisions and again recently in a High Court challenge R (Campaign to Protect Rural England) v Herefordshire Council [2019] EWHC 3458 (Admin).  The court followed the guidance from the [...]

A new permitted development right will come into force on 31 August 2020 to allow demolition and rebuilding of vacant and redundant free-standing commercial and light industrial premises, and residential blocks of flats, as new residential units. At the same time the right will allow up to 2 storeys to be added to the [...]

New permitted development rights were introduced on 1 August 2020 to allow the creation of new homes and living space through upward extensions. These Regulations allow purpose-built freestanding blocks of flats of three storeys or more to extend upwards by up to 2 additional storeys to create new homes, up to a height of [...]