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Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Planning Policy Summary

The existing Local Plan, setting out spatial strategy for future development in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, was adopted in July 2015. The current Consolidated Plan (2015) combines alterations since the Core Strategy adoption in December 2010 and remaining Unitary Development Plan (UDP) extant policies saved in September 2007.  Since 2015, The Council has been undertaking a Partial Review of the existing Local Plan. On 5th May 2017 the Council submitted the Local Plan Partia...

London Borough of Islington Council Policy Summary

Islington has an adopted Local Plan made up for several documents including Core Strategy (2011) and Development Management Policies (2013). Following the government’s requirements, Islington is currently preparing an up to date Local Plan setting out the development approach for the borough over the next 10 to 15 years.  The draft Local Plan Review, expected to be published in Autumn 2018 for consultation and in December 2018/early 2019 for adoption, will include a review of the Core Str...

London Borough of Hounslow Planning Policy Summary

The current Hounslow Local Plan was adopted on 15thSeptember 2015 by the Council and forms part of the planning framework of the borough.  A new Local Plan is being prepared by the Council for which the first consultation has already taken place. Following two more consultations, the submission of the draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State is expected in winter 2018 and its adoption in spring/summer 2018.  The Council has also adopted a number of Supplementary Planning Documents, s...

London Borough of Hillingdon Planning Policy Summary

The Development Plan for Hillingdon forms the statutory basis for planning decisions. It consists of Hillingdon’s Local Plan: Part 1 – Strategic Policies (previously known as the Core Strategy) that was adopted on 8th November 2012 and is to be reviewed in 2018 and adopted in 2010. Saved Unitary Development Plan (UDP), Policies adopted in 2007, consist also part of the Development Plan until their deletion on adoption of Local Plan Part 2. The Local Plan Part 2, including Development Managem...

London Borough of Harrow Local Plan Policy Summary

The Harrow Local Plan currently comprises Core Strategy and Development Management Policies that contain strategic approach to managing growth and development to 2026. The Development Management Local Plan was adopted on 4thJuly 2013 while the Core Strategy was adopted on 12thFebruary 2012 containing policies and site allocations used to determine planning applications. According to Harrow Local Development Scheme, adopted in March 2018, the Harrow Local Plan will be reviewed, and the first cons...

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Planning Policy Summary

A new Local Plan was adopted by the Council on 28th February 2018, replacing the Core Strategy 2011 and the Development Management Local Plan 2013. The Local Plan 2018 with London Plan forms the Development Plan for Hammersmith and Fulham.  New Planning Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was also adopted on 28th February 2018 providing more detailed guidance on the application of the Local Plan 2018 policies. ...

London Borough of Ealing Planning Policy Summary

On 10th December 2013 the Local Plan superseded any saved policies in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) that was adopted in 2004. The current Local Plan comprises Core Strategy DPD (2012) and Development Management DPD (2013) amongst other documents, while following the new planning system under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, 2004, Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) replace Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) in the new planning system.  A new Local Plan will comprise a co...

London Borough of Camden Council Planning Policy Summary

The Local Plan, replacing the Core Strategy and Camden Development Policies document, was adopted by the Council on 3rdJuly 2017 and is now the basis for planning decisions and future development in the borough.  New Camden Planning Guidance (CPG) was also adopted by the council on 26th March 2018 after consultation between 15 November 2017 and 12 January 2018 as Phase 1 of the review of Camden Planning Guidance. CPG documents regarding design, planning obligations etc. were amended to refl...

London Borough of Brent Planning Policy Summary

Brent’s Local Plan comprises of the Core Strategy adopted 12th July 2010, Development Management Policies adopted in November 2016 amongst other documents. The Council has started work on a new Local Plan which will shape how the borough is developed to 2036. From August to December 2017 the Council undertook some engagement events while from 8thFebruary to 22ndMarch 2018 consulted on an ‘Issues and Options’ document. The comments are now being considered and the new local plan is expected...

Barnet London Borough Council Planning Policy Summary

The current Local Plan includes a suite of Development Plan Documents (DPDs), Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and design guidance notes.  Core Strategy and Development Management Policies were adopted by the Council on 11thSeptember 2012 as part of the Development Plan replacing the policies in the Unitary Development Plan (2006), with the exception of 13 saved policies (Chapter 12 of the UDP) for Brent Cross and Cricklewood. The new Local Plan which will replace the Core Strategy a...

Chapter Road, Brent - Flat Conversion Success

WEA Planning gained planning permission for the conversion of a dwelling house into two-self contained flats at Chapter Road, London Borough of Brent. WEA Planning worked closely with the council at the pre-application stage and advised on the form and design of the scheme prior to submission, providing detailed planning justification. The permission will now enable the applicant to move forward and implement development of the conversion providing much needed high quality housing in London Boro...

Chelsea Football Club Stadium on hold

On hold indefinitely will be any pre-construction design and planning work for the Chelsea Football Club in Fulham.  “The club does not have a timeframe set for reconsideration of its decision. The decision was made due to the current unfavourable investment climate” according to the club’s announcement.  Although different locations such as the Battersea Power Station were proposed for the new stadium through the years, the Chelsea Pitch Owners stipulated that if the club moved ...

Fire and Rescue Service HRRB - Grenfell Tower, Kensington

After the fire last June at Grenfell Tower in Kensington, West London, Dame Judith Hackitt, in his interim report of Building Regulations and Fire Safety, recommends that planning authorities should consult a newly created body (JCA) on more than 10 storey buildings -regarded as high-risk residential buildings (HRRB)- to ensure that in the event of fire, the building “is sufficiently accessible” to rescue services.  Hackitt argues that even if the focus of the planning system is to meet...

The Town and Country Planning (Pre-commencement Conditions) Regulations 2018

New regulations for local authorities including all London Boroughs asking for pre-commencement conditions ahead of the granting of planning permission will come into force on 1 October.The Regulations were signed off by former housing minister Dominic Raab earlier this month and the key change is the requirement for the Local Planning Authority to obtain the applicant’s written consent to the terms of any pre-commencement conditions demanded as a condition of planning consent. This will inevi...

The Raynsford Review: Town Planning & housing reform?

The new Raynsford Review’s Interim Report “Planning 2020”, by former housing minister Nick Raynsford, was presented on 15th May at the House of Lords. The review is being led for the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) and by a cross-section of built environmental professionals, including CPRE, and has engaged with over 1,000 people over the last year including many members of the public. The report examines the English Planning System highlighting that continued deregulation has ...

Appeal Delays

During the last year, developers and planners are increasingly frustrated by the delays at the Planning Inspectorate (PINS).  WEA Planning and clients can testify to this experience.   The scale of delays for planning appeals was announced on twitter. Householders have to wait 15 weeks – more than double the average duration in 2013/2014. Hearings on average take 36 weeks while inquiries will take 49 weeks for a decision. While appellants for normal written representations have ...

Ormond Road, Islington - Appeal Success

WEA Planning have been successful in appealing the decision of London Borough of Islington for a loft conversion at Ormond Road. The refused application for the erection of an extension to the rear roof slope and roof of outrigger and installation of roof lights to front roof slope was found excessive and out of scale with the existing surrounding buildings by the Local Planning Authority. Providing detailed analysis and a clear construction of fallback argument, WEA Planning managed the appeal ...

National Planning Policy Framework Draft: Changes to Town Planning in London

After two and half years and several drafts, the 5th March was finally the day when the Government published the long-awaited draft National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) accompanied by numerous supporting consultation documents such as Developer Contributions, Draft Viability Guidance and Housing Delivery Test Measurement Rule Book. The focus of the draft revised NPPF and Prime Minister Theresa May’s speech was the housing crisis and ways it can be resolved.  The revised framewor...

London political turmoil and committee decision making

On the 5th February, when the first meeting of the housing implementation taskforce took place, the Prime Minister highlighted the important role of all government departs and asked for creative thinking to meet the target of 300,000 additional houses by the mis-2020s. It is worth noticing, though, this announcement was regarded as a tactical step back with any pre-2022 election target compared to the commitment of 2015 and 2017 to deliver a million homes by the end of 2020 and half million more...

Draft Revision to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) expected before Easter.

The Draft Revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is expected before Easter. The NPPF is being revised to include planning reforms outlined in the housing White Paper, the Planning for the Right Homes in the Right Places consultation and the announcements at Autumn Budget. The final revised framework is expected to be published in the summer as Steve Quartermain, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Chief Planner stated on his letter to England’s local au...

Westminster: Article 4 Direction for the protection of office space

Permitted development rights were introduced by the government in an attempt to meet the demand for housing. The temporary measure has become permanent and Boroughs typically have to introduce Article 4 Direction to exclude areas from this. Until the updated protection, former offices like Reed House and Riverwalk House have been converted into housing with no affordable provision. Westminster benefitted from having a Borough wide protection via a zonal protection. After the 31st May 2019, ...

Islington Council's call for lower affordable housing threshold accepted.

LB Islington’s argument for lower affordable housing threshold in the Borough was accepted by the Inspector Debbie Moore by dismissing an appeal related to a basement extension in Holloway, North London. The appeal site sits within the Hillmarton Conservation Area and comprises a semi-detached former house converted into three flats while the appellant sought permission for the excavation of part of the back garden to create a fourth basement flat. Islington’s supplementary guidanc...

Theresa May's cabinet reshuffle and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

We referenced our summary of changes expected for 2018 last week.  While house prices in London rose 2.6% in 2017 compared to 4.5% in 2016, according to Building Society Nationwide, housing is apparently becoming the Government’s focus. At least they realise younger people suffering from the price rises and supply shortage might have a say at the next election.  The Department for Communities and Local Government has been renamed, becoming the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Loc...

2018: What to expect for town planning in West London

As we start 2018, many changes are expected for planning including changes to fees, funding and proposals for planning system improvement (as always). Concerning fees, the regulations approved by the House of Lords’ grand committee in December will come into effect this month. Summarising the changes: -20 per cent planning application fee increase -fees for planning permissions in principle -new fees for applications necessary because a permitted development right has been removed -new fees...

Town Planning Fee increases

We wanted to make you aware of some legislative changes that could affect all planning applications and permitted development certificate of lawfulness. The 20% Planning Application Fee Increase will come into effect on 17th January 2018, so any application not registered before that date will have to pay the increased fees. The key increases confirmed are: Planning applications will increase from £172 to £206, where applications relate to one dwelling and to £407 where application relates to...