News

The Government has issued a warning on high-rise homes with a single staircase.
There is concern that the Government has not published guidance on the subject.

There was a briefing on this subject here and a paper published by the House of Commons Library on permitted development and change of use.
The permitted development rules may result in the loss of shops, social infrastructure facilities and local services. London Forum proposed that prior approval applications for town and district centre change of use should be added to the GLA Planning London Datahub for monitoring. That was agreed but it’s accuracy depends upon boroughs uploading data.

HTA Design is chaired by London Forum’s President Ben Derbyshire. HTA has published details of a housing scheme they designed with Pocket Living which has added 126 new homes on a constrained backland site by Downhills Park in LB Haringey. It is a good example of what can be achieved.

London Forum has updated its briefing to members on the content of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (LURB) and has submitted proposals for amendments to the Bill Committee for consideration which the Government has published here.
The Mayor of London has submitted evidence to that committee.
The chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Select Committee, Clive Betts MP, wrote to the Secretary of State in DLUHC about the LURB with queries. Michael Gove’s response is here.… Read more...

Sadiq Khan’s commitments were published here.

Place Aliance has issued a report ‘Appealing Design’ based on analysis of over 30 design based appeals following concerns about the approach of the Planning Inspectorate to design.
The report is supported and endorsed by Civic Voice, the RTPI, the Urban Design Group and Urban Design Learning.
There is an article about the way changes in 2021 to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) may have supported local authorities in refusing developments of poor design and adverse impacts.

The following articles have been published by Planning and their content could be useful for civic and community groups in engagement with their Council.
Summary of tall buildings report for 2022
Court decision provides guidance on Assets of Community Value
Court ruling gives councils scope to turn down upward extensions
High Court decision supports retaining ACV designation
EUV and AUV in viability assessments
Planning article on call-in of Oxford Street M&S store development
Ricketts M&S demolition piece
Minister refuses Article 4 Directions to block office PDR
Government report on permitted development applications
LPAs with most approvals and most refusals for Class MA PDR applications
Councils fail to block badly designed schemes
Government to force landlords to rent after six months
Gove set to announce £7bn property developer levy
Reported demise of S.106 and earlier updates by PlanningResource

There is a lot of information on the web site of the NLA for:-

• • Reports on past events held              

• • Videos on various subjects

• Details of NLA’s Expert Panels and Sounding Boards which contribute to a New London Agenda to develop a vision for London and influence City Hall in shaping the evolution of the next London Plan.

The Built Environment Committee of the House of Lords has commented on the Government’s response to its report on how to meet housing demand.

There is a video of a conversation Steve Quartermain, who was the Government’s Chief Planner, had with Alice Lester, Operational Director Regeneration, Growth and Employment at Brent Council.