Extending extant permissions
On 1 October 2009 the Department for Communities and Local Government introduced new provisions[1] allowing local planning authorities to extend the time limits for existing planning permissions where those permissions are about to lapse. This can be done through a simple application procedure. An application to extend the time limit for implementation can [...]
Flood and Water Management Bill
The Government has issued a draft Flood and Water Management Bill detailing proposals for a new regime for flood risk management. The proposed new regime would give new powers and responsibilities over flooding and risk management to the Environment Agency as well as local authorities. The new Bill seeks to transpose [...]
The Competition Commission has recommended to the Department for Communities and Local Government that they should introduce a competition test into the process for taking decisions on granting planning permission for larger grocery stores. The Competition Commission believes that the introduction of the competition test will bring “significant and lasting benefits for customers”. The idea [...]
The number of planning applications received by English ‘district level’ planning authorities during the last financial year totalled 507,000, a decrease of 22 per cent compared to the previous year.
These latest official statistics also showed that there were 489,000 decisions (granted or refused), a fall of 18 per cent on the previous year. Permissions amounted [...]
Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff is urging Parliament to back new legislation to control the siting of wind turbines near dwellings. He has made the case for a private member’s Bill under the 10-minute rule procedure. Before the debate in the Commons he said: “Government policy on this issue is vague, giving little protection to [...]
The first of the long awaited National Policy Statements was published in draft on 9 November 2009 and provides the context for decision making by the Infrastructure Planning Commission on energy infrastructure and ports. The National policy statement is out for consultation until 22 February 2010. It comprises one overarching energy policy document and one [...]
The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) raised concern at their annual conference in Liverpool that local authority approvals of wind farm applications have fallen to a new low of just 25 per cent. Their latest ‘State of the Industry Report’ indicated that despite the strong growth in the number of wind farms being built, there [...]
Barnet Council is looking at introducing a system whereby it will charge higher planning fees if applicants want their applications processed faster. At the moment this is only intended to apply to householder applications but, if successful, this could be expanded to commercial applications as well.
The Council is keen to move away from a one [...]
