Jim Gillespie

#New PD Rights - Greater flexibility for #farming but not quite as expected. Class Q - Changes to Permitted Developments for the re-use of agricultural buildings come into operation on 21st May. Whilst allowing up to 10 dwellings, 1000 sq.m, a larger curtilage and extensions, there is a limit on the maximum dwelling size of 150 sq.m. The requirement for the building to be agricultural is also more flexible, so long as the building was previously part of an agricultural holding it could have an intervening use and does no longer have to be part of a farm. However, there remains no ability to convert equestrian buildings. As with most changes - there are winners and losers. I question whether the limit on dwelling size is a ploy to steer more "affordable" housing into rural areas? However, I suspect many full applications will follow Class Q approvals, reducing the number of units and increasing the dwelling size. Class R - Re-use of agricultural buildings to commercial use also sees an increase in the permitted area from 500 sq.m to 1000sq.m. and the uses now include B2, B8, C1, Class E and F2(c). Part 6 - Agricultural buildings of up to 1500 sq.m can be erected allowing fairly substantial buildings via the Prior Approval route. Overall a positive result for farmers and developers! Full details of the GPDO changes can be found here:- https://lnkd.in/e_SqWvyM #planning #developers #GPDO #changes

2

Have you read about the Regional Land Use Framework? 🌲 It sets out a vision and objectives for the use of land, across the South of Scotland. Providing information on existing land uses, the benefits they provide, and drivers for land use change 🌟 It recognises the urgency of joined up action, to address the climate and biodiversity crises and identifies some of the priority changes in land use that are going to be needed. You can find the full plan here: https://lnkd.in/eF4gAWD4 Dumfries and Galloway Council South of Scotland Enterprise

3

MY TOP THREE PLANNING STORIES OF THE WEEK 🥇🥈🥉 My selection of planning stories from the w/c 22 April below. 1.   Secretary of State comments on water supply and quality in approving Cambridge North development On 23 April the Secretary of State granted planning permission for the mixed use development (including 425 dwellings) of land north of Cambridge North station. On water, the SofS noted the Inspector’s conclusion that water quality and supply is a material consideration, that the proposal itself would not harm water quality or water resources, but that cumulative impacts of the proposal with other development would add to demand for water. The SofS also noted the Inspector’s acknowledgement that a sustainable supply of water for the Cambridge Water area may not be available for several years, until the Grafham Transfer is operational. In the context of the March 2024 Joint Statement on addressing water scarcity in Cambridge, the secretary of state considered that the proposal accorded with relevant development plan policies (CC/4 and CC/7) and with national policy on water use and supply, and would not have an unacceptable consequence on water supply and quality. This conclusion demonstrated that the SofS found that the statutory process and other measures in respect of water supply were sufficiently robust to ensure the proposal, together with other development, would avoid placing unacceptable demand on water resources and potential harm to ecological interests. 2.   Government provides update on the implementation of build out measures in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act A government update on 25 April set out that the Government intends to consult on views on a build out financial penalty to incentivise developers to build out homes more quickly. The update also sets out that the Government intends to consult on the practical implementation of requirements for commencement notices to be served, annual reports on actual housing delivery via development progress reports, streamlining existing powers for completion notices and allowing authorities to decline to determine applications made by developers who fail to build out at a reasonable rate where there have been earlier permissions granted on any land in the authority’s area. 3.   High Court dismisses legal challenge to residential development in Mid-Suffolk Judgment in Mid-Suffolk District Council v SSLUHC [2024] EWHC 930 (Admin) was handed down on 23 April. The claim related to a legal challenge brought by Mid-Suffolk District Council against an Inspector’s decision to allow an appeal for 210 dwellings in Thurston. Amongst other things, the court found there was no legal error in the Inspector not expressly setting out a conflict with an emerging local plan policy where it was common ground at the appeal that the proposal was in conflict with this policy. #planning #Cambridge #water #top3

50

Cabinet papers have been released for the Reg 19 South Ox and Vale Local Plan - Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 18 September 2024, 6.00 pm (https://lnkd.in/e-d3RNGp). A 6 week consultation is proposed to be held over October/November. Submission is then expected in December 2024. Interesting acceleration of their Local Plan timetable to try to get in ahead of the new NPPF one month deadline, and therefore take advantage of draft paragraph 226c. Albeit given the shortfall they are planning for compared to the proposed new SM (see below), they would be expected to commence a new plan ‘at the earliest opportunity’. Policy HOU1 of the Joint Local Plan confirms the housing numbers to be delivered within each district during the plan period (1 April 2021 to 31 March 2041), which are: • South Oxfordshire housing requirement: 16,530 homes • Vale of White Horse housing requirement: 14,490 homes The above figures incorporate an Oxford City unmet need of 4,950 homes for South and 1,830 homes for Vale, as identified in Oxford City Council’s Local Plan 2036. No further homes are included in the requirement to accommodate any newly identified unmet need from Oxford City, which is currently unconfirmed and in the process of being examined for soundness as part of the Oxford City’s Local Plan 2040. The housing requirements are proposed to decrease over the plan period, dropping to the current SM figure for both authorities. In contrast the proposed revised standard method which would see a housing requirement of 1,179 per annum for South Ox and 937 for the Vale.

40

5 Comments

Do you buy trees or manage a tree planting program? If so, take a few minutes to complete this survey.

1

Do local councils purchase map data for Biodiversity Net Gain? Our blog demystifies the role of map data in the planning process. Read more: https://hubs.la/Q02sJ99M0 #BNG #LandUsePlanning #Sustainability

1

Our team has been fielding lots of questions about the implications for rural landowners of proposed reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). If you are looking for a simple overview of the key changes then read our quick guide: #nppf #planning #housing https://lnkd.in/ehnTrwSV

21