Our Real Estate Horizons one page summary explains what the new BNG requirement is, when it’s relevant and the options available for satisfying it, and provide details on how the biodiversity value of a site is calculated...more
In September 2020, faced with the impacts of a global pandemic exacerbating the problems of an already struggling high-street, the UK government introduced a significant shake-up of the Use Classes Order with the creation of...more
While securing planning permission is often seen as the end of the planning process for a project, there are many reasons why a developer may need to change that consent – a new need for flexibility to reflect changes in the...more
In the global real estate industry, there has been little escape from tales of economic woe recently. But there are still many with money to spend, and given the uncertainty around office, retail and leisure following the...more
The government’s newly formed Older People’s Housing Taskforce held its inaugural meeting in London on 17 May. Led by Professor Julienne Meyer, a former nurse with an extensive career in researching care for older people,...more
The UK government has long wanted to do away with the European-based system of environmental impact assessments, replacing it with a new, improved, domestic regime of environmental assessment and protection. The Levelling-up...more
It’s almost impossible to escape stories of rocketing inflation and increasing costs globally. The development industry isn’t immune to these pressures but is there more to this trend than the increased cost of materials? ...more
Secretaries of State may come and go, but some things remain the same in the English planning system, such as the controversy around protections for, and redevelopment of, the greenbelt. But what is the greenbelt, and does...more
As dark clouds continue to gather on the horizon, and economic activity begins to falter, real estate can quickly slip from being an asset to being a significant financial burden....more
Following a hot summer of even more heated debates, Elizabeth Truss will visit Balmoral on Tuesday 6 September where the Queen will confirm her position as the new prime minister for the UK. Beyond the headline grabbing...more
The promise of planning reform seems perennial. After its Planning White Paper received a less than warm reception, compounded by suggestions that it contributed to by-election defeats, the government decided to pause its...more
Following public consultation earlier this year, draft legislation for a new residential property developer tax has been published by HM Treasury. The aim is to help fund the growing costs of cladding remediation works,...more
Last week, Robert Jenrick, the housing minister, announced a new industry wide levy and tax to "contribute to righting the wrongs of the past". Rightly or wrongly, the development industry is being singled out to foot part of...more
In a bid to increase the amount of land available for development, the government has launched a consultation seeking views on the proposed relaunch of the existing "Right to Contest" as a new "Right to Regenerate". ...more
Just when you thought that no more excitement could happen in the planning world, the government has launched a consultation seeking views on potentially far reaching proposals to allow a change of use from any Commercial,...more
There is no change in the two key issues that have been causing concern to those involved in real estate development, whether as an owner, developer or contractor, both before and throughout the transition period...more
In our blog of 3 September 2020, we brought you news of the challenge to the recent changes to the Use Classes Order and the Permitted Development Rights (“PDR”) regime. ...more
Whilst the three previous articles in our series on planning reform have considered the main changes in the Planning White Paper, there are many more recent far-reaching proposals, both in the Planning White Paper and...more
Paying your way – CIL and planning obligations -
In the third of our series on the detail in the Planning White Paper, we consider the government’s proposals for securing the delivery of infrastructure....more
In this, the second bulletin in our series, we take a look at Pillar Two of the "Planning for the Future" White Paper – planning for beautiful and sustainable places. In this Pillar, the government sets out its vision for...more
In early August, to much fanfare and the promise of "radical reform", the government published the "Planning for the Future" White Paper, setting out its route map to overhaul the planning system in England. The stated aims...more
It's difficult enough to keep on top of the news at the moment – not to mention the raft of recent changes to the planning system announced by Whitehall over the past couple of months. With that in mind, and as the...more
On Tuesday the government laid before Parliament regulations making sweeping changes to the Use Classes Order.
The changes, which come into effect on 1 September 2020, represent a complete overhaul of the current Use...more
It is hard for anyone in the development industry to ignore the impact that COVID-19 and the lockdown have had – be that on day to day construction works, development timelines and even the type of development we're likely to...more
If someone’s land is compulsorily acquired to deliver a public benefit, it is accepted that they should receive fair compensation. But what that “fair compensation” equates to, is far from straight forward....more