This month saw a number of new reports and updates published as part of the challenge to reach the targeted 1.5million homes.
Planning news:
A couple of Green Belt updates this month with the directive from Matthew Pennycook that Planning Inspectors can recommend LPAs to carry out Green Belt reviews to ensure Local Plan soundness.
Additionally statistics have been released for the amount of Green Belt lost in the past year. Data shows that Green Belt across England has been reduced by 0.04% Oct ’24-’25, whilst the year before saw a greater reduction of 0.2%. It is arguably too soon to see the impact of the changes from the NPPF and PPG updates and Green Belt reviews.
Amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill have been tabled and were put to the House of Lords on the 20th October, the following stage is the 3rd reading in the House of Lords, after which the Bill will receive royal ascent.
London Borough of Richmond upon Thames adopted its new Local Plan on 7th October after it was found sound by the inspectors. An interim version of the document is available online.
After years of dismissed appeals, the Supreme Court allowed developer CG Fry’s appeal. The appeal concerned a housing development which had outline and reserved matters approval but conditions on the reserved matters approval were refused due to nutrient neutrality concerns. However, the victory could be short lived for other schemes if the Planning and Infrastructure Bill changes the regulations and make Ramsar sites legally equivalent to Habitats Regulations sites. The Supreme Court held that new material information following approved permissions may need to be addressed in subsequent applications.
MHCLG and GLA have drafted a package of measures to improve housing delivery in London – read our recent blog post on the proposed measures.
PINS have released their appeal data for June – September 2025, finding overall 31% of appeals are successful. This breaks down as 29% success for written representations appeals; 59% for appeals with hearings; and 76% for appeal decisions at inquiry.
Following on from our September blog post, the New Towns Taskforce have released a second report, establishing the strategic vision for master planning and placemaking of New Towns, as well as unpacking governance, stewardship and financing models.
MPs provide recommendations for land value capture including adding standardised S106 clauses and establishing a statutory dispute resolution scheme between LPAs and developers.
Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea are making it easier for flat owners to change existing windows for double glazing by removing the need for planning permission for like for like replacement windows. This would also apply to flats in conservation areas.
WEA Planning successes:
Congratulations to Emily who has been promoted to Planner in our team.
Planning permission granted for window replacement for a flat in LB Southwark.
A Certificate of Lawfulness for Proposed Use or Development was granted for a Use Class C4 small HMO in the City of Westminster.
Renewal of planning permission in RBKC for basement development, lightwells and other external works in a Conservation Area.
Other things we’ve enjoyed this month:
BBC Panorama The Race to Build 1.5 Million Homes gave a good overview of the need for housing and affordable housing, as well as the demand for skills across the construction sector, and of course, gave an overview the current planning system and highlighted issues to address to enable timely and scaled up delivery. The show gave a good insight into the different housing products and providers across the sector and the different current issues of nutrient neutrality (see CG Fry Supreme Court appeal above) and addressing environmental challenges in and alongside development. However, the documentary didn’t go far enough to dispel the countryside image of the Green Belt and address the spatial purpose of the tool. Panorama is available on demand.