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Policy & Legislation
Policy, legislation and guidance produced by the government or its designated bodies. Use adopted sections if you wish to see only policy or legislation in force or emerging sections if you are looking for consultation documents where central government is inviting opinion prior to the implementation of policy or legislation.
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Adopted Policy & Guidance
Here you will find the most recently published government policy and guidance. These are all documents that have been adopted upon publication.
Adopted Legislation
Locate adopted legislation including Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments/Rules.
Consultations & Emerging Policy
Latest consultations and reports on government policy and guidance.
Legislation In Progress
Track the progress of legislation through the Westminster and Scottish Parliaments as well as the Welsh and Northern Ireland Assemblies.
Fresh thinking on the DCP blog
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Lies, damned lies….
It has been said that there are three kinds of lie: lies, damned lies and statistics. The DCP Blog was reminded of this old saw on reading the following paragraph from a dismissed appeal... -
On the nail
An inspector has declined to issue a certificate of lawfulness for the use of a vacant shop in north London as a nail bar, ruling that it would entail a material change of use requiring... -
On a road to nowhere
Lest readers conclude that the DCP Blog’s new year resolution to be cheerfully optimistic about the future of town planning in a difficult political context didn’t last five minutes...
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Policy & Legislation News
MHCLG 'lost almost a quarter of its staff in past year'
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) lost almost a quarter of its staff last year, a report by a think-tank has found.
Planning bodies issue strong objections to further relaxation of PD rights
Planning bodies have submitted strong objections to government proposals to further relax permitted development (PD) rights - including changes to allow commercial buildings to be demolished and redeveloped as housing - with the Planning Officers' Society arguing the move would 'undermine the confidence of the public in the planning system'.
Key Topics
Guidance and legislation documents, news and in-depth coverage of key policy areas.
Briefing Notes
Parliamentary briefing documents on adopted and emerging policy/legislation
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Implementation of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 - Briefing paper
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Housing and Planning Bill: Report on Committee Stage
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Solar Farms: Funding, planning and impacts
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Nationally significant infrastructure projects and housing: briefing note
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Housing and Planning Bill briefing paper published
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Planning for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects: Briefing Paper
Policy & Legislation In Depth
Legal Viewpoint: Causes for concern raised by draft environment bill
Beware collateral impacts for the planning system arising from a draft bill published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) just before Christmas.
The policy and legislation changes to expect in 2019
This year is set to see further significant changes to the planning system, after a flurry of activity in 2018, says David Dewar.
Why developers are worried about a new bill aiming to limit planning appeals
Commentators say a private members' bill aiming to strengthen neighbourhood plans has a slim chance of success, but it has still raised concerns in the development sector.
Policy Summary: Giving councils greater flexibility to dispose of public land for housing
POLICY: Government consultation on disposal of local authority land.
Day-to-day planning goes on amid ministerial change and policy churn, by Richard Garlick
It has felt like a momentous year for planning, and in this edition we do our best to round it up. The ministerial merry go-round has continued, with one new housing secretary and two new planning ministers.
What the government's biodiversity proposals could mean for planning
New proposals requiring developers to leave habitats in a better condition after their scheme is built have prompted some conservation groups to claim they could allow developers to pay to "destroy nature". However, commentators say such fears are misplaced.
Briefing: The implications of the new definition of housing site 'deliverability'
The government's new definition of housing site 'deliverability' introduces a tough test for councils and developers, says Mike Kiely.
How ministers are resisting Parliament's push for more public sector land value uplift capture
The government has responded cautiously to MPs' calls for the public purse to capture more of the land value uplift generated by planning permissions. However, some minor innovations to make the compulsory purchase system more transparent are promised.
