Permitted development rights were relaxed earlier in 2020 to allow extensions upwards to existing blocks of flats to provide additional flats. The Government has recently announced a change to the regulations that require fire safety for external wall construction to be an additional matter that must be submitted for prior approval.

A study by the Royal Town Planning Institute has found that more than half of the public agreed changes to local places, spaces and services will need to happen to adapt to life post pandemic – and that they want to be involved in these decisions. The need for more public spaces and green areas was particularly strongly noted.

As the Government seeks to boost the building of new housing across the country, they are finding it runs into opposition - including from their own Ministers. The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has become the latest Minister to object to a planning application for housing in her constituency, as this report explains.

The Government's proposed reforms to the planning system are receiving a lot of criticism, including from the architectural profession, planners and countryside charities. There is still much debate to be had on the topic and it will not be until next year that any changes happen. But residents will need to be prepared to put their case well in any expected increase in applications that occur; see our book for assistance.

Small investors, self-builders and individuals can be tempted to buy 'micro-plots': fields carved into parcels of land sold with hope value for housing. These rarely gain planning permission and this good article provides a summary. Take advice if you are interested in purchasing, or want to pursue a planning application or appeal.

Decisions on planning applications are still going ahead in the coronavirus lockdown period, but planning officers may not be visiting sites. So they are making more use of photographs. If you are objecting to a planning application then make sure you provide a good schedule of photos - and show where they are taken from.