Planning

• UK Franchise calls for high street reform in 2019

  Mathnasium urges landlords and planning departments to modernise planning policy.

  

• Planning appeals could be slashed by five months

  Decisions on planning appeal inquiries could be made five months faster under proposals published today.

  

• Planning system ‘underperforming’, auditors say

  The Government’s planning system is ‘underperforming’ and struggling to deliver on its aim of building 300,000 homes a year, auditors have found.

  

• Austerity undermines planners ability to ‘serve public interest’, report says

  Central Government cuts have eroded the ability of local planners to think strategically about planning and to ‘serve the public interest’, research has revealed.

  

• A quarter of councils yet to submit a Local Plan

  A quarter of local authorities have yet to submit a Local Plan six years after being required to act, new research has revealed.

  

• Council limits permitted development rights to protect office space

  Islington Council has saved hundreds of thousands of square metres worth of office space from being converted into expensive homes.

  

• The top ten things for local government to be aware of in 2019

  2019 looks set to be a year of interesting challenges and opportunities for local government. Tiffany Cloynes and Clare Hardy offer their predictions for the year ahead.

  

• Councils approve planning applications at ‘fastest rate’ in a decade

  Local authorities are approving planning applications at their fastest rate in over a decade, a homelessness charity has revealed.

  

• Council debates banning drones

  Coventry City Council is considering banning the use of drones on council land due to concerns over privacy and noise pollution.

  

• Birmingham approves 1,400 homes for Commonwealth Games

  Birmingham City Council has approved the planning application for the accommodation for Commonwealth athletes.