• news-banner

    Expert Insights

Planning Reform – the second wave

Big Bold Steps

The long awaited White Paper entitled “Planning for the Future” is super glossy and stuffed full of photographs – get the message, only beautiful development wanted!  This consultation on major reform of the planning system closes on 29 October 2020.

The Prime Minister does not view the planning system as a thing of beauty, more a crumbling relic which has stymied the development of new homes, jobs and talent and enabled developers to dodge their obligations to improve infrastructure. It must be torn down and a new system built in its place.

The Government seeks a simpler, faster and more predictable system with less red tape.  Yet one also where the individual will have a “greater say” over what gets built. A system with quality, design and local vernacular at the forefront, inspired by Bath, Belgravia and Bournville, a world of green spaces, new parks and tree lined streets, where your neighbours will not be strangers. Lessons from the past, reset in a digital revolution for planning.

Big bold steps.

  • We explain here the proposed new system of plans, where development management policies become national and Local Plans focus on land categorisation in three categories, with detailed site parameters for allocations. Neighbourhood plans might remain.
  • We cover here how plans would be prepared, through a pared back system that would take a maximum of 30 months from start to finish.
  • Decision making is covered here where larger sites would benefit from automatic outline permission, and permission in principle and permitted development rights would provide greater certainty to developers.
  • Infrastructure delivery through a potential new Infrastructure Levy replacing section 106 as we know it and CIL is addressed here.
  • Find a wrap up of the rest of the proposals here including the need for resources.

As if that wasn’t enough, the Government is also consulting on more immediate changes to the current system – see here for details.  This covers the standard method for housing need, further details on the provision of at least 25% of all new affordable homes, as discounted First Homes, increasing the threshold for securing affordable housing to sites of 40 or 50 homes for 18 months and extending permission in principle to sites of around 150 dwellings.  The collection of data on contracts controlling land is also being considered.

Please do get in touch if you require any further information. 

This Newsletter was written by Claire Fallows, please contact her on claire.fallows@crsblaw.com for more information. 

Our thinking

  • The FCA’s requirements for Payments Firms

    Charlotte Hill

    Insights

  • Maintaining the Integrity of Sport – Time for AI to Take the Lead ?

    Darren Bailey

    Quick Reads

  • Building Design quotes Kevin Gibbs on Heathrow's plans for a third runway by end of next parliament

    Kevin Gibbs

    In the Press

  • Digital Securities Sandbox Update

    Racheal Muldoon

    Insights

  • Charles Russell Speechlys joins Legal Charter 1.5 as a Dialogue Partner and announces its involvement in a new carbon finance project

    Kerry Stares

    News

  • Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024: Provisions changing qualifying criteria for right to manage will come into force on 3 March 2025

    Laura Bushaway

    Quick Reads

  • Property Patter: Challenges for commercial property in 2025

    Emma Humphreys

    Podcasts

  • The Financial Times quotes Dominic Lawrance on the complexities of the non-dom tax changes in the Finance Bill

    Dominic Lawrance

    In the Press

  • The Times and City AM quote Charlotte Hill on the FCA's plans to delete year-old emails

    Charlotte Hill

    In the Press

  • Up in the AI: Gen AI and law firms

    Joe Cohen

    Podcasts

  • Charles Russell Speechlys finds that 3 in 4 Gen Z adults plan on tying the knot as young people embrace traditional life milestones

    Sarah Jane Boon

    News

  • The Financial Times and The Telegraph quote Catrin Harrison on the growing use of life assurance as a strategy to mitigate against inheritance tax liabilities

    Catrin Harrison

    In the Press

  • Naomi Nettleton and Alicia Stanford-Shard write for Property Week on how landed estate owners are increasingly looking to make improvements to their estates to enhance environmental impact and efficiency

    Naomi Nettleton

    In the Press

  • Charles Russell Speechlys welcomes a new Funds Partner in Hong Kong

    David Collins

    News

  • 20 Years of LGBTQ+ History Month: 20 Influential Figures You Should Know

    Emma Smart

    Quick Reads

  • An introduction to the new Procurement Act 2023

    Jamie Cartwright

    Quick Reads

  • Mind the Gap Trade Mark

    Charlotte Duly

    Insights

  • A Closer Look at the Meaning of ‘Investor’ in Investment Treaty Arbitration

    Stephen Chan

    Insights

  • Rivals: Filming Locations and Considerations for Landed Estates

    Naomi Nettleton

    Insights

  • Shareholder Strategies: A practical guide to unfair prejudice petitions

    Emilie Brammer

    Insights

Back to top