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The Padel Champions: Planning success for new Padel courts at the Georgians Tennis Club

WEA Planning were contacted by the Georgians Tennis Club to convert 3 of their tennis courts to 4 Padel courts, increasing the variety of the sport on offer at the club and bringing new members of the local community into the facilities. Alongside the introduction of Padel to the club’s offering, the Georgians hoped to improve the existing gym and clubhouse buildings through improved windows and cladding.Crouch End Playing Fields is home to many sports grounds, including North Middlesex Cricke...

What constitutes ‘very special circumstances’ in the green belt?

A PINs inspector has allowed plans to make an all-weather football training dome at Watford FC permanent. The training grounds sit in Hertsmere Borough Council and within the Green Belt.The dome received planning permission for temporary use in 2018, for use during autumn/winter months (October – April) for a period of 5 years. The temporary permission expired in 2023, and the club applied for planning permission to make the dome permanent. The council rejected the application due to the impac...

Government Housing Targets

The government have launched a consultation on a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). One of the key proposed changes in the NPPF is an update to the ‘standard method’ for calculating housing targets.Currently, this has been based on household projections and then applying various uplifts or caps based on local circumstances. The revised method would instead mean that housing targets are based on a proportion of the existing housing stock (0.8%) with an uplift based ...

Consultation on a new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)

Since our recent article on the new Labour government’s intentions for the planning system (https://www.weaplanning.co.uk/blog/post/22324/what-does-the-new-labour-government-mean-for-planning/), the government have now launched a consultation on a new version of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).The consultation opened on 30th July 2024, and you can submit your views until 24th September via the link at the end of this article. The proposed revisions comprise a range...

Planning Fee Increases

The government has announced various proposals for planning reform, and this includes considering changes to planning fees. This proposal which is currently open for consultation is to double the householder fees from £258 to £528. This could also potentially include a mechanism where local authorities could set their own fees.The intention is that these fees would fully cover the costs of assessing applications, and it is suggested that 300 additional planning officers will be employed accros...

Can a single enforcement notice allege two types of breach?

This question has arisen as a result of a case where WEA Planning was instructed to challenge a Enforcement Notice issued by a London authority.  It is fundamental that an enforcement notice issued by a Local Planning Authority must state the alleged breach of planning control and which paragraph of Section 171A(1) the Town and Country Planning Act (1990; as amended) (the ‘TCPA’) the alleged breach falls under:171A Expressions used in connection with enforcement.(1) For the purposes of ...

What does the new Labour government mean for planning?

We have a new government and congratulations to Labour. The new Labour government has indicated it will bring several changes to the town planning system. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced major planning reforms to "get Britain building again" in her first speech at the Treasury. She emphasised the government's commitment to economic growth and increasing housing supply, aiming to build 1.5 million homes in five years. Here are some key areas where changes are expected:1. National Planning...

Newsflash: 4 Year Rule scrapped

The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023 (LURA) came into force 26th December 2023. One of the major changes proposed was for the Section 171B (TCPA 1990) enforcement time limit of 4 years to be scrapped though no timetable was announced. The commencement date has now been published and: From 25 April 2024, section 171B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 is amended by the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.Section 171B currently provides enforcement time limits of 4 years:The c...

Planning Portal service fee rise (£70)

The Planning portal service fee was first introduced in 2018 (see our blog here) and means most planning applications are subject to a planning portal handling fee. This has been on the rise since inception and the new tax year has resulted in a further increase. The fee has risen by £6 to £70 including VAT. The Planning Portal argue it is vital to "sustainably enhance the dependable digital services that underpin the national built environment industry". You can read more here....

National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) Update

The government has recently (19th December 2023) revised the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) along with issuing a written ministerial statement.Whilst there are some broad changes, the amendments primarily relate to housing development....

Newsflash: Application fees to go up 20% + "free go" submissions abolished

On 6th December 2023 increased planning application fees will take effect.Application fees in England will be increasing by 25% across the board, which will rise to 35% for major schemes.‘Free go’ resubmission applications in England will also be removed. Applications that were already eligible for a free resubmission prior to the change (i.e. before 6th December 2023) will remain able to submit a free resubmission. Application fees will rise annually, linked to inflation (and capped at...

Office and Retail to Residential Conversions (Class MA)

The General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) allows for various developments and changes of use, without the need to apply for planning permission. A relatively recent, and increasingly popular part of this legislation is Class MA, which allows for change from Class E (shops, offices, cafes, restaurants etc.) to Class C3 (residential dwellinghouses). This is subject to Prior Approval by the local authority. Simply put, this is a sort of ‘light’ planning application - it allows the Loc...

New (Small) Houses in Multiple Occupation (C4 HMOs) and Planning Permission

Historically, small HMOs (up to 6 occupants) were not distinct from regular family occupied dwellings in terms of their planning status. Until April 2010, the Use Class Order (The Town and Country Planning [Use Classes] Order 1987 [as amended]) did not include any specific classification covering HMOs. Up until that time, shared properties with up to six occupiers were not distinguished from residential properties in family/single occupancy use, and fell within the C3 dwellinghouses classif...

Lambeth Enforcement Appeal Success for WEA Planning

The alleged planning breach was the conversion of a property in the London Borough of Lambeth into two self-contained flats. Lambeth London Borough Council had issued an enforcement notice which requested the building was converted back into a single dwelling.The house had been extended following planning approval in 2015. The extension was then converted to a self-contained, one-bedroom flat without planning permission, and was occupied by a family member. The flat was later let out to a couple...

New Planning Bill Announcement

The current test for determining applications is “the determination must be made in accordance with the plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise” (S38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The test will be changed, by section 83 (2) of the bill which states: “the determination must be made in accordance with the development plan and any national development management policies, unless material considerations strongly indicate otherwise.” The bill also ad...

New contemporary house in Norbiton won on appeal

Image Credit: Jameson-surveyors...

Looking back at 2021

As we are making resolutions and preparing for the year to come, while waiting for the government’s response to the consultation on the August 2020 “Planning for the Future” white paper it is time to look back at 2021 and ask: What happened in the world of planning in 2021? In September, with the cabinet re-shuffle, the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government became the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, and Michael Gove MP replaced Robert Jenricks MP and is ...

London Plan has arrived

After years of drafting, examination by the Planning Inspectorate and a year of negotiations with the Secretary of State, the Mayor of London has finally adopted the new London Plan 2021 March 2nd (2021). It is worth noting, the final adoption is only two months ahead of the London Mayoral election to select the new London Mayor (delayed by one year).  The New London Plan sets the Mayor’s strategic vision for the growth of London for the next 20-25 years.  The main changes to th...

Flat conversions

Planning permission is required for the carrying out on land of any development (Section 57(1) of the TCPA 1990). Development is defined as the "carrying out of building, engineering, mining or other operations in, on, over or under the land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land" (Section 55(1) of the TCPA 1990).  As a general rule, planning permission is not required for internal works to a building. Section 55(3) of the TCPA 1990 also specifically...

Summary of latest Permitted Development changes

Following the many announcement by the Housing Minister in the last few weeks (posted here), a summary of the new permitted development rights that have been created and when they will come into effect: Came into force 1st August 2020 Construction of up to two storeys of flats above purpose-built blocks of flats built between 1948 and 2018 under the newly created PART 20, Class A (New dwellinghouses on detached blocks of flats).  For more information click here.  To come...

Upwards extensions to homes

Following the June 2020 announcement that purpose-built blocks of flats will be able to extend upwards without applying for planning permission (insert link to News flash: Permitted Development Rights allowing two-storey upwards extensions June 25, 2020) the government published a new round of new permitted development rights set out in The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2020.  The first of those permitted rights ...

New Use Classes: All Change

It is probably safe to say these are most significant changes to the planning regulations in this round of amendments. The forthcoming government white paper will give us and indication as to for how long.   As part of the many changes to planning system announced by the housing minister Christopher Pincher, a reshuffle of the commercial use classes has been announced to allow for more flexibility and greater adaptability of our high streets. The new use class detailed below will come into ...

News flash: Permitted Development Rights allowing two-storey upwards extensions

News courtesy of planning resource via the housing minister Christopher Pincher, upwards extensions to purpose built detached flats are now permitted albeit via the Prior Approval process.  Though this is welcome news to allow for less interference in proposals to sensibly increase density in urban areas, the reality is a number of conditions that will preclude many. Notably:  1. Conservation Areas excluded.  2. Pre-1948 blocks excluded.  3. Recent Change of Use blocks exclud...

Coronavirus and Planning

Coronavirus has hit everyone and the current “lockdown” is going to continue for some time. Most people are working from home or are furloughed and this is no different for most Local Authority planning officers. Some restaurants are diversifying to offer delivery services where they can.  Coronavirus is a huge challenge for local government and impacts the planning system in a number of ways. Some planning officers are being considered “key workers” and some are being redeployed in...

More success in the London Borough of Islington

WEA Planning gained planning permission for the construction of a double storey rear dormer extending the first and second floors of two prominent corner properties of the Westbourne Estate in Holloway (London Borough of Islington). The Westbourne Estate was designed by renowned architect Eric Lyons. The clients contacted WEA Planning after a refused application for Certificate of Lawfulness as the unique roofshape of the two properties was deemed by LB Islington to not allow the double height d...