We have been closely following the emerging details of the new biodiversity net gain (BNG) regime and the emerging market for off-site BNG which is expected to come into force for most planning applications in November 2023...more
6/15/2023
/ Biodiversity ,
Brownfield Properties ,
Consultation ,
Critical Habitat ,
Environmental Policies ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
New Guidance ,
Property Owners ,
Real Estate Development ,
UK ,
Urban Planning & Development
Publication of the Water Resources Infrastructure NPS marks a milestone for water infrastructure projects as it is the first NPS for water resources pursuant to the 2008 Act, coming 15 years after the regime’s creation. First...more
Significant revisions to the draft energy NPS published for consultation align with other strands of government energy policy and legislative amendments being introduced via the Energy Bill. They strengthen the need case for...more
4/26/2023
/ Aviation Industry ,
Consultation ,
Defense Sector ,
Electricity ,
Energy Policy ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Infrastructure ,
Net Zero ,
Offshore Wind ,
Policy Drafting ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Renewable Energy
The government’s consultation on the proposed new system of Environmental Outcome Reports to replace the existing environmental assessment regime, provides a clearer idea of how it is likely to work in practice. In this...more
The Government’s Action Plan on how it proposes to improve the NSIP planning process has some good ideas, most of which amount to fine-tuning rather than a fundamental change. Whilst some of the changes may increase the cost...more
3/14/2023
/ Electricity ,
Energy Projects ,
Energy Sector ,
Expedited Actions Process ,
Expedited Approval Process ,
Infrastructure ,
National Action Plan ,
Permits ,
Public Projects ,
Real Estate Development ,
UK
The planning regime has been adapted over time to accommodate the commercial realities of development, with statutory mechanisms introduced to enable the approval of amendments to existing planning permissions to various...more
The chancellor’s 'mini-budget' on 23 September introduced some significant planning reforms. In a separate blog we discussed the new Investment Zones announced that will benefit from tax reliefs and liberalised planning laws....more
The Chancellor’s radical tax cutting 'mini-budget' on 23 September introduced the new government’s central agenda for growth. Whilst it was the fiscal announcements that have since dominated the headlines and market reaction,...more
A recently published government consultation (which closes on 19 July 2022) proposes fundamental changes in how CPO compensation is assessed and will have significant implications for landowners, acquiring authorities and...more
In the third and final Insight in our series on the planning changes in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (the first was on the proposed changes to local plans and the second on the new Infrastructure Levy), we examine...more
In the second Insight in our series on the planning changes in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill (the first was on the proposed changes to local plans), we examine the proposed new Infrastructure Levy that will...more
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill introduces some fundamental changes to the English planning system particularly for local plans. In the first of three Insights on the planning changes in this Bill, we examine the...more
This year’s Queen’s Speech takes forward the Government’s planning reform agenda. In this BCLP Insight we take a look at which new Bills have implications for planning and what this means for those in the planning and...more
Fundamental weaknesses in the UK’s energy security revealed by recent global events created a catalyst for urgent government review and prompted publication of the Energy Security Strategy in April 2022. The planning system...more
5/6/2022
/ Climate Change ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Energy Market ,
Energy Sector ,
Hydrogen Power ,
Military Conflict ,
Nuclear Power ,
Oil & Gas ,
Renewable Energy ,
Russia ,
Solar Energy ,
Strategic Planning ,
Wind Power
The DEFRA consultation published this month on the scope of the biodiversity net gain regulations to be introduced under powers in the Environment Act 2021, provides developers and landowners with a much clearer indication of...more
1/21/2022
/ Biodiversity ,
Brownfield Properties ,
Consultation ,
Critical Habitat ,
Environmental Policies ,
Exemptions ,
Habitat Conservation Plan ,
Property Owners ,
Real Estate Development ,
UK ,
Urban Planning & Development
Planning legislation has been framed over many years to grapple with climate change and there is no doubt that there is real impetus at all levels of development to ensure that climate targets are met. In this blog we discuss...more
12/16/2021
/ Carbon Emissions ,
Climate Change ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
Green Buildings ,
Infrastructure ,
National Environmental Policies ,
Net Zero ,
Real Estate Development ,
Sustainability ,
UK ,
Urban Planning & Development
One of the more ambitious provisions of the new Environment Act 2021 is the mandatory requirement for new developments to provide a 10% biodiversity net gain. Whilst this requirement has no legal effect yet (and will be...more
Following publication of the new Residential Property Developer Tax for technical consultation, we examine when this tax will be charged and the types of development activities that will bring developers within scope.
The...more
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) launched a consultation into revisions to the Energy NPSs earlier this month (which closes on 29 November) in line with the Planning Act 2008 which requires...more
The Judicial Review and Courts Bill (“the Bill”), first announced in the Queen’s Speech in May to introduce reforms to judicial review, had its first reading just before Parliament’s summer recess. It follows the Government...more
Changes to the NPPF published by MHCLG on 20 July 2021 reflect the Government’s manifesto commitment to making ‘beauty’ and place making a strategic theme in national planning policy. In this Insight we explain how the new...more
The recent Government announcement to review how heritage planning applications are considered and defended has cast a shadow of uncertainty over the heritage planning regime. In this blog we summarise the main principles of...more
Confirmation that the Government is examining new ways to increase build out rates could see the introduction of levies where planning permissions are not built out as expected. In this blog we remind ourselves that these...more
A new requirement for Fire Statements to be submitted with certain planning applications for high rise residential buildings and for the HSE to be consulted on such applications is intended to take effect from 1 August 2021. ...more
Following Secretary of State intervention, the planning policy for tall buildings in the adopted version of the London Plan was changed to allow borough-level development plans to lead on the detail. What does this mean for...more