Updates

The details of the cabinet of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak MP are here.
There are comments on the appointments and activities of DLUHC.

The financial settlement for Transport for London was explained in a letter by the Government which indicates on what the Mayor can spend the money and what may not yet be funded.
here are comments on the implications in a MyLondon report.< ONLONDON interviewed the Commissioner of Transport for London, Andy Byford, who expressed pride in the “acceptable” funding agreement secured, saying it has saved London from the worst outcomes implied by the Government’s initial offer.

Joanna Averley has issued her September 2022 letter to planning officers.
It contains an update to the Healthy and Safe Communities guidance for Councils to put controls on litter when considering applications for takeaway food businesses.
Lambeth and Southwark councils are trialling a new user-centred service for planning applications, as here.

An appeal was dismissed on a proposed development in LB Barnet as here.
The Inspector made good use of the NPPF, some London Plan policies and the latest BRE guidelines on natural light standards to homes in finding the development too dense within it and too harmful to its surroundings. An article in the London Forum’s September 2022 Insights gives more details which civic and community groups could use in other situations.
There is a UDL guide on applying design considerations in planning appeals.

The future of the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill will not be clarified until Parliament reconvenes in October 2022. Meanwhile, Hugh Ellis of TCPA has written a blog about the situation.
Clive Betts MP Chair of the Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee wrote on 24th August 2022 to Secretary of State the Rt Hon Greg Clark, MP, with concerns about the Bill.
Mr Betts commented that “It has been difficult to conduct scrutiny due to a lot of the detail of the provisions having not yet been [more…]

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.
Following the July 2022 changes of Ministers in DLUHC, an [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 [more…]