The government are introducing new measures to boost the building industry and planning including: Extension of planning permission deadlines, saving hundreds of construction projects’ permissions from expiring New changes to speed up the pace of the planning appeal process Flexible working hours on construction sites to support social distancing, helping people return to work safely Extension of Planning Permissions Planning permission usually expires after three years if work has not commenced. The government is proposing measures that will enable planning permissions that would have expired between 23 March and 31 December 2020 to be extended until 1 April 2021. Speeding up the Planning Appeal process Section 319A of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 currently only allows planning inspectors to switch between procedures, not employ more than one at the same time for an appeal. Most planning appeals are decided by the written representations procedure.  Under this procedure, [...]

Since our last update the world has changed. This has and will affect the future of Planning in the UK. News and updates are set out in our quarterly update below: National Planning The government want to help keep the planning system moving and a number of changes and announcements have been made to date as follows: Temporary regulations have been introduced to allow authorities flexibility with public consultation Neighbourhood Plan referendums are postponed until May 2021. However, neighbourhood plans awaiting referendums should be given significant weight in decision making. Allowing extended working hours for construction sites until May 2021. Temporarily relaxing some CIL rules for developers with an annual turnover of less than £45 million Setting up virtual appeal hearings and public inquiries New regulations to allow Planning Committees to hold virtual meetings Regulations allowing pubs and restaurants to temporarily change to a takeaway The 2020 Budget in [...]

Bedford Borough Local Plan 2030 (adopted January 2020) includes a requirement for the plan to be reviewed quickly.  It will review the development strategy, include site allocations and review development management policies where required. The first Issues and Options consultation document has now been published for the consideration of the Executive Committee on 24 June 2020. The document (which can be viewed here) proposes potential locations for housing and employment growth including: further regeneration within the Bedford / Kempston urban area, particularly of any available brownfield sites; expansion of the Bedford / Kempston urban area; expansion within the borough boundary, of neighbouring urban areas, such as Rushden and St. Neots; development along the A421 corridor; development around an East West Rail northern station; new settlements in locations with good accessibility; more dispersed development throughout the borough including the expansion of villages. It is proposed that the consultation will run [...]

How can I change a pub or restaurant to a takeaway? The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) Order 2020 came into force on 24 March 2020. This inserted a new Class DA for a time limited (temporary) change of use from: Class A3 (restaurants and cafes); Class A4 (drinking establishments; mixed use for any purposes with Class A3 and Class A4; or use as a drinking establishment with expanded food provision as defined in Class AA.  To: Use for the provision of takeaway food. This change of use applies from 24 March 2020 – 23 March 2021. An applicant must notify the local planning authority if the building and any land within its curtilage is being used, or will be used, for the provision of takeaway food. The use of the building and any land within its curtilage will revert to its previous lawful use [...]

Will Planning Appeals be considered during lockdown? The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has issued guidance on its working practices to limit the spread of the Coronavirus which can be viewed here. All site visits, hearings and inquiries are currently postponed. PINS are looking into the use of technology to enable them to continue running planning inquiries and hearings online. PINS are exploring methods like video conferencing for events to continue in an open, fair and impartial way. They want to ensure everyone involved including local communities can participate fairly and that this different way of conducting their work does not undermine confidence in the planning appeals system. To hear Christine Thorby, Director of Strategy at the Planning Inspectorate, and Paul Brown QC, Chair of the Planning and Environment Bar Association discuss the way forward click here. The Planning Inspectorate are continuing to accept and process new planning appeals. J & J Design have considerable [...]

How will Planning Committees make planning decisions during the Covid-19 crisis? The government have recognised the difficulties for Planning Committees in the current crisis. The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 came into force on 4 April. These regulations permit council members to attend meetings remotely, either by phone or video link. The basic requirements are that members can be heard and can hear others, with video links only required "where practicable". Committee members attending remotely must be able to hear each other, as well as applicants and council officers. Members of the public must able to hear what is going on, but there will be no requirement to hear them unless they are entitled to speak because they have registered. To qualify as “open to the public”, the meeting should be [...]