On 3 March 2017, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority was established as a Mayoral Combined Authority for the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough area. The Combined Authority works with the local councils, the Business Board (Local Enterprise Partnership), local public services, Government departments and agencies, universities and businesses to grow the local and national economy. Local government is divided between Cambridgeshire County Council and Peterborough City Council, which is a separate unitary authority. Under the county council, there are five district councils, Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, East Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Fenland District Council. The current Strategic Planning position in Cambridgeshire is as follows: Peterborough City Council The Peterborough Local Plan was adopted on 24 July 2019. This is a statutory Local Plan which sets out the overall approach to development in Peterborough to 2036 and beyond. The Council have now commenced a Local Plan Review 2023-44 to replace the current Local Plan.  The Council consulted [...]

Central Bedfordshire are progressing a Full Local Plan Review in accordance with the revised Local Development Scheme (LDS)  under the new legislation.  The LDS sets out the high-level timeframe for the development of an updated Local Plan. The Local Plan Engagement Strategy has now been finalised.  The Council are currently undertaking a consultation which includes a survey form and a map-based questions opportunity.  This is open for responses until 23 September 2024.  Visit Central Bedfordshire Local Plan Review page to take part. A Call for Sites will be taking place before the end of the year, with brownfield sites first and all other sites to follow. Following this the Local Plan is expected to progress with the following key milestones: Outcomes of evidence, site assessment, drafting of plan - Jan - Dec 2025 Public and stakeholder engagement - Draft Local Plan Formal Consultation (Regulation 18): February 2026 – April [...]

During the first half of 2024 there were interesting local and national planning updates and developments and there are more to come following the change of government.  Read our Q2 News update to learn more: National Planning On the National Planning scene the new Government have announced that Planning is at the heart of their Agenda and a Planning and Infrastructure Bill was included in the Kings Speech.  Further expected changes include a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), further resourcing for planning departments, review of Green Belt land and a new task force to accelerate stalled housing sites. The 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) regulations came into full effect on 2 April 2024. However, there are exemptions for certain types of development. From 25 April 2024, changes to enforcement and lawful development certificate (LDC) appeals came into effect as a result of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act [...]

Woburn Abbey has been the family home of the Earls and Dukes of Bedford for nearly 400 years. Planning in Bedfordshire is administered by three unitary authorities: Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, after Bedfordshire County Council was abolished in 2009. The current Strategic Planning position in Bedfordshire is as follows: Bedford Borough The Local Plan 2030 was adopted in January 2020 and sets out how much growth there should be in the borough (housing, jobs and associated infrastructure) up to 2030 and where it should take place. In some settlements the Council is now looking to Neighbourhood Plans to allocate housing sites, generally in and around the defined Settlement Policy Area boundaries. The Bedford Borough Allocations and Designations Local Plan was adopted in July 2013 and covers the period until 2021.  The Plan identifies sites for development to meet the Council’s needs to 2021. A number of other supplementary documents form the basis [...]

In March 2022 Natural England announced emerging evidence which identified significant recreational pressure on Chilterns Beechwoods Special Area of Conservation (SAC), more specifically Ashridge Commons and Woods Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) component. Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) which were identified as partly or wholly with the 12.6km Zone of Influence (ZOI) were contacted and asked to find a strategy to mitigate the impacts of future residiential developments on the Chiltern Beechwoods. The following LPAs are working together to provide a solution: Buckinghamshire Council(Aylesbury Vale and Chilterns Districts); Central Bedfordshire Council; Dacorum Borough Council; St Albans City and District Council; Dacorum Borough Council have now produced a mitigation strategy and associated processes to satisfy the requirements of the Habitats Directive. The mitigation strategy includes the following elements: 1. Strategic Access Management and Monitoring (SAMM) 2. Identification of SANG sites to provide compensation 3. Identification of a Gateway Project Strategic [...]

In April 2021 the eight existing councils in Northamptonshire were abolished and replaced by the two new councils of North Northamptonshire and West Northamptonshire. This means that Planning in Northamptonshire is now handled by the two new unitary authorities: West Northamptonshire serves the areas of Daventry District, Northampton and South Northants, and; North Northamptonshire serves Wellingborough, Kettering, Corby and East Northants. Current Local Plans in Northamptonshire include: North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy The North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy was adopted on the 14th July 2016. This is a Part 1 Local Plan for Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough.   For more information click here. The Council are reviewing their strategic planning policies through the North Northamptonshire Local Plan to take into account changes since 2016, and extend the plan period to 2041. The Plan will also cover some non-strategic matters that are set out in the Part 2 Local [...]