A stand off between developers and the Council in trying to secure new housing in a village, but also to provide the required affordable housing as part of that, seems to have stalled any houses at all. A demonstration of the complexities of planning, and how delays can impact on delivery.

Permitted development rights allow householders and businesses to undertake works without needing a grant of planning permission from their local Council. The Government has widened these rights over the years, and they have recently announced intentions to widen these again: ideas include larger and taller rear extensions, removing limits on roof extensions, and increasing the ability for more outbuildings in gardens.

Fees for planning applications were increased in December, so are now applying to all applications made to Councils. See here for the updated rates.

The developers of the presitigious, and large, Fairmont Hotel near Windsor has found themselves with an enforcement notice to demolish the hotel as they built it larger than approved. The Hotel was host to the recent signing of the Windsor Agreement betwen Rishi Sunak and the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.

The role of planning enforcement in controlling unauthorised development has come into the news with the demolition of The Crooked House pub. It is reported the Council did not agree for the wholesale removal of the building, but the owners did so anyway. Now we wait to see what action might be taken.

Research shows that the number of successful appeals has fallen to a 5 year low, at just 18% being allowed. Our guide gives advice on how to prepare and submit your planning appeal, to give you the best chance of getting your planning permission.

The lack of housing supply can be important in determining whether an appeal is successful: if there is a shortfall, there is a presumption in favour of sustainable development. A potential housing site that had been considered for development for many years in Surrey finally got the approval at appeal, partly on the basis of the need for housing.