Back to Blog

Planning Appeal timescales

Further to WEA Planning’s previous article, ‘Appeal Delays’, the latest statistics from the Planning Inspectorate with regards to the time it is taking to determine different types of planning appeals was published on 9thOctober 2018 with significant changes compared to the previous figures of October 2017, February 2018 and March 2018.  A slight improvement was noticed for householder, advertisement consent and other minor appeals, with the waiting for determination time decreasing f...

Grand Designs magazine showcases the benefits WEA Planning brings to ambitious homeowners

For a growing business such as WEA Planning, recognition in front of a wider audience is a precious privilege. So it was a great honour for us to be mentioned three times in the October 2018 edition of Grand Designs magazine. We were particularly proud to be on the suppliers’ list for the project that was featured on the front cover of the edition published in the same month as the prestigious Grand Designs Live show is held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham....

Larger Rear Extensions: Deadline for completion nearing.

If you are a homeowner or a developer and you wish to extend your house you should be aware that this can take place without the need for planning permission if your proposal is considered permitted development subject to the relevant limits and conditions.  While the length normally accepted for single-storey rear extensions was 4 metres for detached houses and 3 metres for all other houses after the publication of “The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment...

London Road Twickenham Success

Permission granted for condition removal to allow the opening of a fitness studio located at London Road, Twickenham! WEA Planning obtained approval for the removal of the ‘Personal Permission’ condition. WEA managed to save resources and time for the applicant who, following the planning strategy WEA proposed, is now able to move forward and open their business. Another great result for WEA in London Borough of Richmond upon Thames!...

Planning portal planning application fee transaction charges

For existing and future clients, the now privatised Planning portal is introducing a new service. The promotional text states: "As well as smoother, speedier validation for your applications, our new service will provide:A consistent set of payment options across all authorities – including online, telephone, bank transfer and chequeThe option to nominate a third-party to pay securely for the applicationThe ability to pay for your application 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year...

National Planning Policy Framework July 2018

Today (24th July 2018), the Government published the first revision of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) which, following widespread consultation, replaces the original NPPF introduced in 2012.  In regards to on-going applications and appeals, the NPPF took immediate effect, therefore developers and planners need to be aware of the changes, as they will affect their schemes. However, for the purposes of examining local plans, the policies of the revised NPPF will apply to the pl...

Negotiated Pre-Commencement Conditions: Welcome news

Pre-commencement planning conditions and the delays caused to project programmes have always plagued the UK planning system and its ability to encourage development. As stated by Ashfords LLP:On 1 October 2018 the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (Commencement No 5) Regulations 2018 will trigger section 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017, specifically subsections 14(1), (3) and (4). This in turn will implement s100ZA (4) to (13) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. The governmen...

Change of Use of unit to Residential in Kensal Rise - Approval Granted

WEA are pleased to advise we have secured planning permission for retrospective Change of Use from live/work unit (Sui Generis) use to residential (Use Class C3) at Kilburn Lane, North Kensington, London Borough of Brent. Originally built as one of the 23 live/work units contained within Regal Building, the unit has been used solely for residential accommodation since construction. WEA Planning managed the application and demonstrated the proposal’s compliance with both local and national poli...

London Borough of Westminster Planning Policy Summary

Westminster’s development plan includes the Westminster’s City Plan adopted on 9th November 2016 and policies of the Unitary Development Plan saved on 24th January 2010 by the Secretary of State. Although is currently being reviewed, the Council asks for full weight at Westminster’s City Plan when determining planning applications. The Council advises that very limited weight should be given to the emerging policies at an early stage of the plan-making process. Regarding the UDP, the saved...

London Borough of Wandsworth Planning Policy Summary

The Wandsworth Local Plan consists of a series of documents with Core Strategy, adopted in March 2016, being the most important, setting the spatial vision for the borough. The Development Management Policies Document (DMPD) and Site Specific Allocations Document (SSAD), both adopted in March 2016 support the Core Strategy objectives.  Wandsworth is now reviewing the policies in the Local Plan that relate to employment land which are expected to de adopted in winter 2018. The Council will a...

London Borough of Sutton Planning Policy Summary

On 26th February 2018 the London Borough Of Sutton adopted the Local Plan as a development plan document (DPD) replacing the Core Strategy (2009) and the Site Development Policies DPD (2012). The new Sutton Local Plan set out planning strategy and policies for the borough’s development until 2031.  The Council publishes also Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) periodically to provide further guidance for the Local Plan policies. As most of the SPDs are dated before 2008, with Planning...

London Borough of Merton Planning Policy Summary

The existing Local Plan for Merton has currently superseded the Unitary Development Plan 2003 and contains the Core Planning Strategy adopted in 2011. The Local Plan 2020 is now being produced by the Council and is expected to be submitted this summer and adopted in spring 2019.  Merton provides Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) to provide further guidance on Local Plan policies with most of them being dated prior to 2007. The most recent Merton’s SPDs are Basement and subterranean p...

Royal Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames Planning Policy Summary

Since 2012 there has been substantial changes to the current Development Plan for the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames with Core Strategy 2012 being the main development plan document of it.  The Core Strategy 2012 will be replaced by the new Kingston Local Plan 2019-2041 that has already begun to be produced by the Council and is expected to be adopted later this year. ...

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Planning Policy Summary

The existing Local Plan, setting out spatial strategy for future development in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, was adopted in July 2015. The current Consolidated Plan (2015) combines alterations since the Core Strategy adoption in December 2010 and remaining Unitary Development Plan (UDP) extant policies saved in September 2007.  Since 2015, The Council has been undertaking a Partial Review of the existing Local Plan. On 5th May 2017 the Council submitted the Local Plan Partia...

London Borough of Islington Council Policy Summary

Islington has an adopted Local Plan made up for several documents including Core Strategy (2011) and Development Management Policies (2013). Following the government’s requirements, Islington is currently preparing an up to date Local Plan setting out the development approach for the borough over the next 10 to 15 years.  The draft Local Plan Review, expected to be published in Autumn 2018 for consultation and in December 2018/early 2019 for adoption, will include a review of the Core Str...

London Borough of Hounslow Planning Policy Summary

The current Hounslow Local Plan was adopted on 15thSeptember 2015 by the Council and forms part of the planning framework of the borough.  A new Local Plan is being prepared by the Council for which the first consultation has already taken place. Following two more consultations, the submission of the draft Local Plan to the Secretary of State is expected in winter 2018 and its adoption in spring/summer 2018.  The Council has also adopted a number of Supplementary Planning Documents, s...

London Borough of Hillingdon Planning Policy Summary

The Development Plan for Hillingdon forms the statutory basis for planning decisions. It consists of Hillingdon’s Local Plan: Part 1 – Strategic Policies (previously known as the Core Strategy) that was adopted on 8th November 2012 and is to be reviewed in 2018 and adopted in 2010. Saved Unitary Development Plan (UDP), Policies adopted in 2007, consist also part of the Development Plan until their deletion on adoption of Local Plan Part 2. The Local Plan Part 2, including Development Managem...

London Borough of Harrow Local Plan Policy Summary

The Harrow Local Plan currently comprises Core Strategy and Development Management Policies that contain strategic approach to managing growth and development to 2026. The Development Management Local Plan was adopted on 4thJuly 2013 while the Core Strategy was adopted on 12thFebruary 2012 containing policies and site allocations used to determine planning applications. According to Harrow Local Development Scheme, adopted in March 2018, the Harrow Local Plan will be reviewed, and the first cons...

London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Planning Policy Summary

A new Local Plan was adopted by the Council on 28th February 2018, replacing the Core Strategy 2011 and the Development Management Local Plan 2013. The Local Plan 2018 with London Plan forms the Development Plan for Hammersmith and Fulham.  New Planning Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was also adopted on 28th February 2018 providing more detailed guidance on the application of the Local Plan 2018 policies. ...

London Borough of Ealing Planning Policy Summary

On 10th December 2013 the Local Plan superseded any saved policies in the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) that was adopted in 2004. The current Local Plan comprises Core Strategy DPD (2012) and Development Management DPD (2013) amongst other documents, while following the new planning system under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act, 2004, Supplementary Planning Documents (SPD) replace Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) in the new planning system.  A new Local Plan will comprise a co...

London Borough of Camden Council Planning Policy Summary

The Local Plan, replacing the Core Strategy and Camden Development Policies document, was adopted by the Council on 3rdJuly 2017 and is now the basis for planning decisions and future development in the borough.  New Camden Planning Guidance (CPG) was also adopted by the council on 26th March 2018 after consultation between 15 November 2017 and 12 January 2018 as Phase 1 of the review of Camden Planning Guidance. CPG documents regarding design, planning obligations etc. were amended to refl...

London Borough of Brent Planning Policy Summary

Brent’s Local Plan comprises of the Core Strategy adopted 12th July 2010, Development Management Policies adopted in November 2016 amongst other documents. The Council has started work on a new Local Plan which will shape how the borough is developed to 2036. From August to December 2017 the Council undertook some engagement events while from 8thFebruary to 22ndMarch 2018 consulted on an ‘Issues and Options’ document. The comments are now being considered and the new local plan is expected...

Barnet London Borough Council Planning Policy Summary

The current Local Plan includes a suite of Development Plan Documents (DPDs), Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) and design guidance notes.  Core Strategy and Development Management Policies were adopted by the Council on 11thSeptember 2012 as part of the Development Plan replacing the policies in the Unitary Development Plan (2006), with the exception of 13 saved policies (Chapter 12 of the UDP) for Brent Cross and Cricklewood. The new Local Plan which will replace the Core Strategy a...

Chapter Road, Brent - Flat Conversion Success

WEA Planning gained planning permission for the conversion of a dwelling house into two-self contained flats at Chapter Road, London Borough of Brent. WEA Planning worked closely with the council at the pre-application stage and advised on the form and design of the scheme prior to submission, providing detailed planning justification. The permission will now enable the applicant to move forward and implement development of the conversion providing much needed high quality housing in London Boro...

Chelsea Football Club Stadium on hold

On hold indefinitely will be any pre-construction design and planning work for the Chelsea Football Club in Fulham.  “The club does not have a timeframe set for reconsideration of its decision. The decision was made due to the current unfavourable investment climate” according to the club’s announcement.  Although different locations such as the Battersea Power Station were proposed for the new stadium through the years, the Chelsea Pitch Owners stipulated that if the club moved ...