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Happy Christmas and New Year London

We are reaching the end of the year and we have survived a year of potential turmoil (both sides of the Atlantic). While Brexit is having a mixed impact on local and regional economic development, what should be expected to come in planning next year? With the Budget 2017 and Draft London Plan being the most discussed topics of the year, here are the key proposed policy changes affecting the future of planning. In his announcement of Budget 2017, Chancellor Philip Hammond set 300,000 net additi...

Draft London Plan 2017 – Part 1

The Draft London Plan was published for 3-month consultation on 29th November 2017 while the final new London Plan is expected to be published in Autumn 2019. The Draft Plan sets out the Mayor’s vision for London and the strategic policies for future development and ‘Good Growth’ of the capital. Although the policies are not finalised yet, they are an indicator of the new approaches which influence planners, developers and decision makers. ...

World Town Planning Day 2017

Coinciding with the launch of Sadiq Khan’s draft London Plan, the theme for World Town Planning day 2017 was the “House Me London”campaign. Launched in May, “House Me London”seeks to engage all Londoners in a discussion about the challenges and solutions to London’s housing crisis. The evening featured an influential panel of speakers from within and beyond the built environment professions. Coinciding with the Evening Standard’s Tuesday front page splash “Sadiq Khan's radical pl...

Budget November 2017

During his presentation of the Budget 2017 to Parliament, chancellor Philip Hammond announced his willingness to “build a country fit for the future” with the planning regime and the shortage of housing being clearly the focus. Hammond’s apparently “ambitious” housing plan includes £44bn of capital funding, loans and guarantees to boost housing supply up to 300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s. How the government gets to this target is not clear.  As predicted, the talk in the p...

No Deal Brexit and Planning

Gina Miller’s article in the New European over the weekend raises some challenges perhaps not on the radar of most. It assumes, if the government’s threat of a no-deal scenario were real, there would be evidence the government would be preparing and drafting legislation such as an Act of Parliament such as the High Speed Rail (Preparation) Act 2013. Whether or not that is true, Miller raises some interesting points regarding the types of provisions that would be needed if such a circums...

Alternative truths: Permitted Development interpretations in the London Borough of Brent

Development Control Practice (DCP) describe as “Taking the Michael” but a recent prior approval appeal decision for a single storey side and rear extension (24 Oxgate Gardens, Brent) is just another illustration of the quirks of Permitted Development Legislation. LB Brent argued the Prior Approval application should be refused on the basis the enlarged part of the dwelling would extend beyond a wall forming a side elevation of the original dwelling and have a width greater than half the...

More hurdles for Basement Development in North London

Consultants, architects, developers and homeowners will recall the landmark Eatherley v LB Camden High Court case as reported in the National press. Mr Justice Cranston ruled against LB Camden who issued a Certificate of Lawfulness for a one storey basement dig. Mr Eatherley's lawyers argued the proposed work included a substantial engineering operation which was not within the permitted development rights. Prior to this, London Boroughs had started to implement Article 4 Dir...

Prior Approval Updates

From the 6th January 2018, 32 locations are set to be subject to an Article 4 Direction preventing the permitted change of use of office floorspace to residential use. They mainly relate to Hounslow's vast array of employment sites. ...

Commercial Article 4 Directions in the London Borough of Richmond

Article 4 Directions can remove the permitted development rights for change of use from B1(a) offices to C3 residential.  Some London Boroughs are using this power to restrict permitted changes of use. In Richmond, most major town centre employment locations are now protected. The list below lists these locations in accordance with the date the Article 4 was implemented. For more specific location maps, you can download the PDF maps from the LB Richmond website.   From 7 July 2016...

Restoring Empty Homes

The Guardian has written another article (Guardian, 20th April 2017) on the empty homes crisis in the UK. The article tables the numbers by value. Unsurprisingly London dwarfs all – primarily because of the average values in the capital. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/apr/20/over-200000-homes-in-england-still-lying-empty-despite-housing-shortages There are more people in the UK needing affordable homes than ever before. In England alone there is an estimated 1,688,892 households...

Office to residential conversions in Kingston

A new Kingston-Upon-Thames Article 4 designation came into effect on 1 October 2015 and any units which have prior approval but have not been occupied by this date, will require planning permission. The Direction affects any building that is currently used as office, or any vacant offices in the following areas: Kingston Town Centre; New Malden District Centre; Surbiton District Centre; Tolworth District Centre; Chessington Industrial Area; Barwell Business Park; St George's Industria...

Retail / Professional Services to Residential Conversions

The latest changes to the General Permitted Development Order 2015 (Schedule 2, Part 3, Class M) incorporate a permanent provision for retail and professional service units to be changed to residential use, with certain limitations. The limitations are summarised below: The proposed building must have been in use as a shop (A1) or professional service (A2) on or before the 20th March 2013. If the unit was vacant on the 20th March, proof will need to be given to confirm the last known use. The...