We cover all key aspects of the planning application process from the procedure, viability considerations, to decision-making and material considerations, to the duty to give reasons for planning decisions.
A series of Practice Notes and Checklists outlining the planning issues for a planning title in a property transaction. How information’s revealed, what to report on, and the significance of the findings for the buyer.
Compulsory purchase is governed by complex legislation, case law and guidance. We provide the legal requirements and good practice to help customers navigate the procedure, scope of CPOs and opportunities for challenge.
Planning requirements, procedures, policy, appeals and enforcement. We cover developments ranging from small-scale residential extensions to nationally significant infrastructure projects.
This week's edition of Planning weekly highlights includes: a court decision determining neighbouring solar farms did not create a single ‘NSIP’...
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has launched a call for evidence, seeking views on proposals to mandate solar canopy...
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has published an impact assessment (IA) for the Planning and Infrastructure Bill,...
Planning analysis: This case involved a claim brought by Drayton Manor Farms Ltd seeking clarification as to whether the solar farm for which it had...
The Planning Inspectorate (PINS) has published two guidance documents on non-urgent Crown Development applications for planning permission under...
Environment Act 2021—snapshotTitleEnvironment Act 2021Key dateRoyal Assent: 9 November 2021SubjectEnvironmental principles, governance, regulation,...
Sustainable drainage systems (SuDS)Introduction to SuDSIn a natural setting, rainfall will be intercepted by vegetation or infiltrated into the...
Legal procedures for creating cycle tracksA ‘cycle track’ is a way which constitutes or comprises a highway, which the public have a right of way on...
Street vote development ordersBackgroundChapter 4 of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA 2023), which received Royal Assent on 26 October...
Right to contestWhat is the right to contest?The right to contest was launched by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 8 January 2014. It provides a...
Conservation covenant agreementThis is the first draft of a precedent conservation covenant agreement, to be made under section 117 of the Environment...
Wayleave agreement—previous Electronic Communications CodeSTOP PRESS: THE NEW ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS CODE CAME INTO FORCE ON 28 DECEMBER 2017. THIS...
Planning use swap agreementDated:Parties1[insert party name] whose registered office is at [insert address] (‘the First Party); and2[insert party...
Precedent s 106 agreementAGREEMENTrelating toSection 106 of the Town And Country Planning Act 1990 [and [insert other legislation]] in relation to the...
Precedent s 106 deed of indemnityAGREEMENTrelating toliabilities arising from an agreement made under section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act...
Planning conditions—the six testsPowers to impose planning conditionsThe general powers for local planning authorities (LPAs) to impose conditions on...
Local planning authority as applicant for planning permission to itselfLocal authorities are not immune from having to obtain planning permission to...
Section 215 notice requiring maintenance of landIntroductionThe purpose of section 215 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990) is to...
Agricultural buildings and land: permitted development rightsPursuant to section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), planning...
Determining planning applications—procedureLegislation and guidanceThe statutory requirements relating to the determination of planning applications...
Dangerous buildings and structuresPowers of the local authorityThe local authority has powers to deal with dangerous buildings under a number of...
Failure to comply with planning enforcement—criminal liability and direct actionUnder the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA 1990), a breach of...
Defining the planning unitWhy is it important to establish the planning unit?Pursuant to section 57 of the Town and Country Planning Act...
Implementing a CPO—notice to treat and General Vesting DeclarationContextThe confirmation of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) does not vest title in...
Permitted development in WalesPlanning permission is required for the development of land. 'Development', which is defined in the Town and Country...
The Crichel Down RulesThe Crichel Down Rules (the Rules) require that in certain circumstances, surplus government land that was acquired by, or under...
Local Development OrdersWhat is a Local Development Order (LDO)?An LDO is a local development order, made at local authority level by a local planning...
Offshore wind—permits and permissionsLegislative and policy context for offshore wind development in the UKUnder EU Directive 2009/28/EC (the EU...
Appropriation of land for planning purposesLocal authorities who have acquired land for a statutory purpose must hold that land for that purpose. They...
Planning inquiriesThere is a right of appeal against most local planning authority (LPA) decisions on planning applications and related applications....
A consent granted by the Secretary of State under the Planning Act 2008 for the construction and operation of a nationally significant infrastructure project in England for transport, energy, water or waste. A DCO combines a grant of planning permission with certain other separate consents, including listed building consent.
Consists of the local plans and neighbourhood plans (taken as a whole) that have been adopted or approved in relation to an area, setting out the policies for the development of that area. Planning decisions must be made in accordance with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
A type of automatic planning consent for housing-led development allocated in an adopted local plan or neighbourhood plan, or included in a local brownfield register. The result of permission in principle, together with a grant of technical details consent, is a grant of full planning permission.