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.

A House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is where a single family house is used for more than one household. Up to a certain number that may still fall within the same use class as a dwellinghouse, but over three means that a change of use may occur. This can prove controversial with local residents, as this news article shows.

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.

We have a YouTube channel that gives some quick tips for writing your planning objection, or making a planning appeal. Have a look by clicking here.

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.

Habitat and protected species can be important issues in planning applications and appeals. The Government, through Natural England, have announced a new ‘District Level Licensing’ scheme. This looks at the landscape rather than a site-by-site assessment, as well as and using conservation payments from developers to create new habitats in locations. Applicants, appellants and objectors need to be aware of the importance of protected species in all schemes.

The plans to expand Heathrow by an additional runway have received a major setback with a successful challenge in the Court of Appeal by a partnership of local Councils and environmental pressure groups. The ruling said that the Government's adopted Airports National Policy Statement was not compatible with the climate change obligations under the Paris Agreement. Discussion continues as to the implications of this ruling. Will it be the end of the additional runway plans? Or does it just mean that the plans can be resurrected, provided they make proper reference to the obligation and other legal requirements? No doubt the objections will continue whatever the decision.