Town planning 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.

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.

Consultations & Emerging Policy

Latest consultations and reports on government policy and guidance.

Fresh thinking on the DCP blog

Whose side are you on?
3 July 2020
How would you decide which planning approval notice was the authorised version if there were two different versions in existence, both appearing to be legitimate? This was the question...
Upshifting
1 July 2020
Tight site and the council is demanding bike storage? Have a look at this appeal case (DCS Number 400-026-507 ). The case concerns a planning condition which required secure cycle...
A cat’s chance in hell
30 June 2020
A condition which stated that no signage could be erected at a cattery on Merseyside had a cat in hell’s chance, after an inspector found that it did not satisfy the tests for planning...

Policy & Legislation News

New demolition and upwards extension permitted development rights will be introduced this month, says Jenrick

By John Geoghegan, 3 July 2020

New permitted development (PD) rights allowing vacant commercial and residential buildings to be demolished for new housing and individual homes to extend upwards will be introduced "before the summer recess", the housing secretary Robert Jenrick has said.

The implications of automatically extending consents due to lapse in the pandemic

By David Blackman, 2 July 2020

Plans to allow automatic extensions to planning permissions that are due to lapse during the Covid-19 crisis have finally been confirmed by the government, to the relief of the development sector. But the new measures throw up some potential challenges for decision-makers and developers where consents have already lapsed, say observers.

Briefing Notes

Parliamentary briefing documents on adopted and emerging policy/legislation

Policy & Legislation In Depth

What the appointment of Joanna Averley as chief planner means for the sector

The housing ministry has announced the appointment of the first female chief planner. Commentators say Joanna Averley’s arrival suggests the government is keen to show that it is concerned with upholding design quality standards, though there is some debate about how influential she could be over ministers.

What to expect in the government’s ‘New Deal’ for planning

Despite its radical language, most observers are sceptical that the government will implement a completely zonal planning system in the short term, but they expect an expansion of permitted development rights and relaxations of the use class order to be announced shortly.

How new Covid-19 application publicity rules may raise fresh risks for councils

New temporary rules allow councils to publicise applications using social media and other electronic communications during the pandemic, but using such digital methods does raise some risks, commentators warn.

The implications of new rules on virtual committees: the Planning Briefing

How new rules allowing councils to conduct planning committee meetings remotely using digital technology change the system and their implications. By Adam Branson.

Why permitted development right for Covid-19 response facilities could allow more than hospitals

A hastily-introduced measure to regularise the planning position on temporary hospital facilities in response to the coronavirus pandemic opens the way for possibly unanticipated uses operating under a relatively relaxed regime, experts argue.

Why developers and councils are both calling for permission lifespans to be extended during the pandemic

A host of built environment and local government bodies have come together to call for Westminster to follow Scotland's lead and allow planning permission lifetimes in England to be extended during the coronavirus outbreak.

The implications of delegated and virtual decision-making

Local authorities are looking at using emergency delegated powers and a system of 'virtual' planning committees to allow decision-making to continue during the coronavirus outbreak. But practitioners warn that delegated powers are likely to be suitable for just a limited number of applications, while virtual committees face technical challenges and are likely to limit public participation.

Efforts to keep the system moving through the pandemic are essential, by Richard Garlick

As we went to press, strenuous efforts were being made to keep the planning system moving in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Policy & Legislation

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Adopted Legislation

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