In a Written Ministerial Statement (WMS) on 28 November 2014, the Government introduced an alteration to national policy in respect of planning obligations for affordable housing and social infrastructure contributions and introduced the Vacant Building Credit (VBC). This led to subsequent changes to the National Planning Policy Guidance.

As you may know, we are celebrating our 10^th anniversary of being in business this year. We wouldn’t be here at all without the support of our clients, associates and friends, and to recognise the same, we’ve decided to hold a party to say thank you.

The announcement in the Summer Budget to grant 'automatic permission' on all registered brownfield sites across the UK is a significant reform. However, various technical challenges need to be overcome.

Sir Edward Lister, the Mayor's Chief of Staff and Deputy Mayor for Policy and Planning, explained the measures that the Greater London Authority (GLA) are taking to tackle London’s biggest issues in a revealing speech hosted by Snapdragon on 28^th July. Amongst the acute housing shortage, the need for job creation and changing retail preferences, Sir Lister set out the Mayor’s plans in the face of the recent Productivity Plan and Housing Bill from Central Government.

Iceni Projects has looked into the possible repercussions of the Government’s announcement last week by Planning Minister Brandon Lewis that planning authorities in England must produce post-NPPF local plans by early 2017 or face intervention.

Recent research carried out by Iceni Projects has found that only 125 of 330 local authorities in England (38%) have adopted their Local Plans since the publication of the NPPF (information gathered April – July 2015), which underpins why the Government has felt compelled to comment on this matter.

However, the danger is that in trying to right a wrong, further damage may be committed to the plan making process.  Communities Secretary of State, Greg Clark, has voiced concern that some Inspectors are taking too tough a line on emerging development plans, stating that “there is a real value in getting a local plan in place at the soonest opportunity, even if it has some shortcomings which are not critical to the whole plan. ... it is critical that inspectors approach examination from the perspective of working pragmatically with councils towards achieving a sound local plan.”

Tucked away within a section concerning improvements to the planning process, the government used its Fixing the Foundations: Creating a more Prosperous Nation paper to announce an abandonment of its commitment to zero carbon new homes by 2016.

Decades of deliberation and three years’ worth of inquiry later, a recommendation has finally been reached (although how conclusive such a recommendation will be is yet to be ascertained) by the UK Airports Commission. South East England’s additional aviation capacity should be provided for via a third runway at Heathrow, with Gatwick losing out in this bid to expand.

Extract from Property Week, 26 June 2015
Ian Anderson, Executive Director at Iceni Projects: 

Editor: Your recent column points to a well-established concern in the industry – the failure to grasp the planning ‘nettle’ by political parties too focused on ‘aspirational’ yet ineffective demand-side policies, like the much maligned Right-To-Buy rehash. Unfortunately for this government time is running out and, unless the supply crisis is addressed immediately, this issue will define General Election 2020. Politics can no longer afford to skirt around the problem.

Yet we must be careful not to mistake planning reform with dumbing down the system. The last government went to great pains to overhaul a bloated regulatory framework. Think what you will about the NPPF, which is not perfect, but planning needs some degree of consistency and the framework offers that. Instead, let’s build on its basic principles and financially incentivise Councils to put development plans in place. As we’ve seen, waving a stick doesn’t work if you’ve already experienced the chopping block, and it’s time we ensured Local Authorities – all of which have been cut to ribbons – feel the benefit of proper planning.

Will a peak hour lorry ban protect London’s cyclists?

After a number of collisions and fatalities involving cyclists and lorries (eight mortalities this year alone), a fresh bid has been launched by Transport for London (TfL) to improve the safety of both Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and the Capital’s roads.

The short answer many will probably give you is no, and they would be backed up by the first poll of the 2016 Mayor of London battle, which revealed that the Conservative’s shinning hope (at least for now) Zac Goldsmith would lose to Dame Tessa Jowell.