Planning | LocalGov


Call for caution over land value capture reform 24/04/2025 Experts have urged against wholesale reform of developer contributions, despite the flaws within the current system.
Horsham challenges local plan decision 23/04/2025 Horsham District Council has complained to the planning inspectorate after its local plan was rejected.
Councils click into the future of planning 22/04/2025 In town halls across the country, planning officers are racing to update their Local Plans — but this time, the process looks very different.
Council spends £220k demolishing ‘man cave’ 22/04/2025 Forest of Dean District Council was forced to spend £220,000 demolishing an illegally built leisure complex belonging to a millionaire.
Council plans major repairs to Victorian-era bridge 14/04/2025 Leicester City Council has submitted a planning application for major repairs to the Victorian-era Rialto Bridge.
Minister blocks Oldham exit from development plan 10/04/2025 Oldham MBC's attempt to exit an agreement that could see the development of 11,500 new homes has been stymied by the Government.
Luton Airport expansion gets the green light 04/04/2025 The Government has signed off on the expansion of Luton Airport despite concerns about the environmental impact and a predicted increase in noise pollution.
Local planning authorities working to out-of-date plans 01/04/2025 Two-thirds of local planning authorities (LPAs) outside of London are working to out-of-date research plans, new analysis has revealed.
Council warns against ‘ploughing ahead’ with Stansted expansion 11/03/2025 Hertfordshire County Council has warned that plans to expand Stansted airport would lead to an increase in noise and air pollution for local residents.
CCN: Planning legislation would ‘dilute’ local oversight 11/03/2025 Legislation aimed at speeding up planning decisions would ‘dilute’ the role of councillors on planning committees, warns the County Council Network (CCN).
Council green lights multi-billion-pound data centre 06/03/2025 Plans for a multi-billion-pound data centre are a step closer to being realised after the local authority granted the proposals planning permission.
Close planning loophole to save pubs, campaigners say 03/03/2025 Campaigners have written to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner urging her to back calls for a change in the planning laws to protect pubs.
Planning breaches uncovered at £6m mansion 03/03/2025 North Norfolk DC has launched an investigation after it was alleged the owners of a £6m house had built a pool and tennis court without planning permission.
Local plans ‘overhaul’ announced 28/02/2025 The Government has announced an ‘overhaul’ of the local plan process in a bid to speed up development.
Is enough being done to meet the 1.5m housing target? 28/02/2025 Jonathan Pearson, director of Residentially, asks if the Government is doing enough to meet its 1.5 million new homes target.
Council to approve statue of rock legend Lemmy 25/02/2025 Stoke-on-Trent City Council's cabinet is set to sign off today on a statue of rock legend Motorhead frontman Lemmy.
Developers leave 1.4 million homes unbuilt 14/02/2025 Councils have given planning permission for more than 1.4 million homes since 2007 that have not been built, research has found.
Council green lights Spurs park plans 13/02/2025 Enfield councillors have approved an application from Tottenham Hotspur for a new women’s training facility in a public park.
Data reveals council areas with most fast food outlets 12/02/2025 The London borough of Camden has more fast food outlets per resident than any other local authority area in England, according to new analysis.
LGA to provide salary grants for planners 12/02/2025 The Local Government Association is offering councils financial support to help boost their planning capacity through the Pathways to Planning initiative.
Housing plan on MoD site scrapped due to acid grasslands 07/02/2025 Colchester City Council is set to remove a former Ministry of Defence firing range from its development plans due to the site's ‘environmental value.’
McDonald's defeats council efforts to stop branches opening 06/02/2025 McDonald’s has defeated councils’ attempts to stop it opening new branches by claiming the fast-food outlets promote healthier lifestyles, an investigation has revealed.
Biodiversity Net Gain ‘failing to deliver’ 06/02/2025 A lack of ambition on Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) has left the scheme failing to deliver, according to new research.
Council green lights UK’s biggest battery site 30/01/2025 City of Doncaster Council has granted planning permission for what is billed to be the UK’s biggest battery site.
Mayor warns of creating 'behemoths' 22/01/2025 A mayor has warned of creating local government ‘behemoths' overburdened with responsibilities.
Tackling the ecological skills gap 21/01/2025 Catherine Spitzer, chief executive of Environment Bank, explains how private investment can help councils that are struggling to attract skilled ecologists.
Cabinet ministers support plans for new Chinese embassy 17/01/2025 The Government has backed the Chinese Government's plans for a major new embassy complex at Royal Mint Court near the City of London.
Former minister Maclean among 38 new peers 23/12/2024 Former Conservative housing and planning minister Rachel Maclean is among 38 new peers who will enter the House of Lords.
Government changes rules to spot slow planners 17/12/2024 The speed with which councils decide planning applications will be assessed over a shorter time period by the Government.
Plans for Europe’s joint-tallest building approved 16/12/2024 London's skyline is set to be transformed with the erection of a 74-storey tower, which is the same height as the Shard, Western Europe’s tallest building.
EV chargepoints ‘on track’ for 2030 goal but challenges remain 13/12/2024 The UK is on track to reach 300,000 public electric vehicle (EV) chargepoints by 2030, the national public spending watchdog has found.
Mandatory housebuilding targets confirmed 12/12/2024 English councils must deliver on an ‘ambitious’ combined target of 370,000 new homes a year, the Government has confirmed.
Rayner: NIMBYs will no longer have upper hand 09/12/2024 Deputy prime minister Angela Rayner has announced plans to end the influence of NIMBYs on housebuilding, vowing they will ‘no longer have the upper hand'.
M&S triumphant after three-year demolition bid 06/12/2024 Oxford Street’s M&S store can be demolished, the Government has ruled, more than three years after the retailer submitted plans to rebuild the flagship shop.
Rayner may intervene over plans for tower block near synagogue 26/11/2024 The Government could step in amid a dispute over plans to build a 43-storey office block near Britain’s oldest synagogue in London.
Councils get £47m for new homes stalled by nutrient neutrality rules 07/11/2024 Seven areas in England will benefit from a share of £45m to ‘unblock’ new housing developments that have been stalled by rules on nutrient neutrality.
Planning policy fails to cut car reliance 06/11/2024 A national planning objective to promote sustainable transport has failed to reduce car reliance in new housing developments, research has revealed.
Oil firm continues production despite Supreme Court ruling 28/10/2024 Surrey County Council is considering enforcement action against an oil company that is operating two wells in the county, despite a Supreme Court ruling.
Councils 'sitting on' £8bn of s106 and CIL money 21/10/2024 Councils in England and Wales have failed to spend over £8bn of section 106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money, according to a new report.
Planning departments hit hardest by staff shortages 14/10/2024 Planning departments are facing the worst workforce shortages, with eight out of 10 experiencing recruitment and retention issues, new research has revealed.
Sky to appeal film studio planning refusal 14/10/2024 Broadcaster Sky is planning to appeal Hertsmere Borough Council's decision to refuse planning permission for an expansion of Sky Studios Elstree.
Council leaders call for Government approval of hospital plans 10/10/2024 Council leaders have called for Government approval of plans for a new hospital ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Permission given for 7,000 homes in flood zones 09/10/2024 Planning permission has been granted to build more than 7,000 homes in the areas at the highest risk of flooding in England, a new report has revealed.
Rayner to decide on Hollywood-backed studio plan 09/10/2024 Buckinghamshire Council’s decision to reject plans for a multi-million-pound film studio is set to be reviewed by the Government.
Housing targets ‘weaken local decision making’, LGA warns 03/10/2024 The Local Government Association (LGA) has raised concerns that mandatory housebuilding targets for councils centralise policy and weaken local decision making.
Council ‘alarmed’ by local plan rejection 02/10/2024 The leader of Oxford City Council has said she is ‘alarmed’ after planning inspectors recommended the council withdraw its draft local plan.
Building costs may exceed house prices in 60 council areas 01/10/2024 The cost of building a home may be higher than house prices in up to 60 UK local authority areas, according to new research.
Councils warn over ‘excessive’ housing targets 27/09/2024 Councils in county and rural areas have raised fears that ‘excessive’ new housing targets could leave them at the mercy of speculative development.
A new outlook for strategic planning 26/09/2024 Mike Best at Turley looks at the future of strategic planning under a Labour Government.
Localis: Counterproductive ‘tax landscape’ threatens pubs 23/09/2024 A think tank has warned that a ‘counterproductive regulatory and tax landscape’ threatens the future of local pubs.
Council overruled as new incinerator gets go-ahead 18/09/2024 Dorset Council has accused the Government of ignoring residents’ views by approving a new waste incinerator on the Jurassic coastline.
'Larger projects slowing down housebuilding rate' 18/09/2024 The speed of approving large developments is slowing down the rate of housebuilding in the UK rather than refusals, research from Warwick University has found.
Ministers back Khan to pedestrianise Oxford Street 17/09/2024 The mayor of London has unveiled government-backed plans to pedestrianise the capital's most famous shopping street.
High Court blocks Cumbria coal mine plan 16/09/2024 The High Court has quashed the planning permission granted for the UK’s first new deep coal mine in 30 years.
Affordable housing at risk in cash-strapped council areas 10/09/2024 Half of the councils most impacted by austerity have not built any affordable homes using contributions from private developers since 2010, a think-tank has found.
Man United joins regeneration drive 10/09/2024 Manchester United has joined forces with Trafford Council and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to maximise regeneration opportunities.
Devolution key to net zero transition, think-tank says 10/09/2024 Devolving powers to cities will be critical to the Government achieving its net zero goals, a think-tank has argued.
New homes should be for Welsh speakers, council says 06/09/2024 A community council in Wales has objected to plans for a new affordable housing development amid fears of a decline in non-Welsh speakers.
£27m flood protection scheme gets the go-ahead 06/09/2024 Balfour Beatty has been awarded a £27m contract to deliver a flood protection scheme in Scotland on behalf of Perth and Kinross Council.
Controversial plans to build asylum site at RAF Scampton axed 06/09/2024 RAF Scampton will no longer be used to house asylum seekers, according to the local authority.
John Lewis submits plans for £80m Reading housing scheme 04/09/2024 The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) has submitted plans to Reading Borough Council to build new rental housing on the site of a disused town centre depot.
Planning ‘dysfunction’ leaves new homes vulnerable to floods 03/09/2024 ‘Dysfunction’ in the English planning system is leaving new housing development vulnerable to flood risks, according to a report published today.
Appointment to oversee shared planning service 02/09/2024 Guildford and Waverley BCs have appointed a single head to oversee shared planning services.
Placing accessibility at the centre of house building 30/08/2024 Disabled architect and renowned access consultant, Amy Francis-Smith, argues that accessibility should be the focus of new local government house building.
Manchester councillors approve 71-storey tower 30/08/2024 Councillors in Manchester have approved plans for five new skyscrapers that will provide no affordable housing among 2,388 flats.
Councillors back controversial £1bn regen scheme 30/08/2024 Tower Hamlets Council members have granted planning permission to media mogul Richard Desmond's controversial £1bn development scheme on the Isle of Dogs.
Council chiefs welcome New Homes Accelerator 29/08/2024 Local government leaders welcome the launch of a New Homes Accelerator, which has been tasked with speeding up the delivery of stalled housing sites.
Row over collapse of legal action 22/08/2024 Proposed legal action over the Government granting planning permission for a large-scale solar farm has collapsed, provoking an angry reaction from two councils.
Council reluctantly puts forward extra housing sites 22/08/2024 West Berkshire Council has proposed additional housebuilding sites ‘with great reluctance’ following a demand from a planning inspector.
Councils to take legal action over solar farm permission 08/08/2024 Suffolk County Council has initiated legal proceedings in a bid to secure more funding after the new Government approved a large-scale solar farm.
Ensuring packaged pump stations meet utility standards 30/07/2024 Helen Wilson, industry & infrastructure UK manager at Xylem UK, answers the questions developers may ask before selecting a pumping station.
The Housing Crisis: a long road ahead 30/07/2024 Vistry’s CEO of Partnerships & Regeneration, Stephen Teagle, looks at what needs to be done to deliver more affordable housing.
Government to kick off planning consultation 29/07/2024 The Government will release a promised consultation on its updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) tomorrow.
Bromley first to approve John Lewis homes 26/07/2024 Councillors have approved retailer John Lewis’ plans to build a housing block above a Waitrose store in Bromley town centre.
Interview: Fighting climate change in court and as a councillor 25/07/2024 Fresh from a landmark legal win said to have ‘fundamentally changed’ the planning landscape around fossil fuels, Sarah Finch chats to LocalGov about her experience taking action on the climate – both in the courts, and as a councillor.
Call for clarity on decarbonising buildings 25/07/2024 The Government’s net zero and economic growth ambitions could be ‘derailed by a lack of clarity’ on decarbonising older buildings, a report has argued.
Planning funding restoration needed to meet homes target 23/07/2024 Labour will have to return planning department funding back to 2010 levels to achieve its ambition of 1.5 million homes, a network of councils has said.
York council green lights government hub 23/07/2024 City of York Council has signed off on plans to construct a six-storey government hub near the city centre.
Plans to boost Teesside Freeport vehicle and access approved 22/07/2024 Plans for new transport facilities to support the growing number of vehicles entering the Teesworks site on Teesside have been given the green light.
King’s Speech: Labour commits to ‘modernising planning committees’ 17/07/2024 The Labour Government will deliver its aim of building 1.5 million houses by ‘modernising planning committees.’
King's Speech: Devolution takes centre stage 17/07/2024 The announcement of an English Devolution Bill took centre stage in the King's Speech.
King's Speech: A plan for devolution 17/07/2024 The new Labour Government has set out a widespread plan for devolution and economic growth in its Parliamentary timetable, with central diktat reserved for planning proposals.
Council faces legal challenge over poultry unit 15/07/2024 A legal challenge has been launched over Shropshire Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a major intensive poultry unit.
Plans for £2.3bn ‘Venice of Britain’ scrapped 15/07/2024 Planning applications for a £2.3bn town on the site of a former power station on the Hampshire coast have been withdrawn.
Pro-growth planning could deliver 407,000 jobs 10/07/2024 A pro-growth planning environment could deliver 407,000 jobs and 55.7 million square feet of commercial floorspace in central London by 2045, study says.
The Grey Belt: Is it the panacea that is needed? 10/07/2024 The new Government plans to ‘get Britain building again’ by releasing 'Grey Belt' land. William Nichols, Regional Director, Lanpro looks at what this means.
Rayner: Labour ready to ‘transfer power out of Whitehall’ 09/07/2024 Deputy PM Angela Rayner is set to tell regional mayors that Labour is ready to ‘transfer power out of Whitehall’ through a major programme of devolution.
Reeves: Labour set to bring back housebuilding targets 08/07/2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to announce today that she will bring back compulsory housebuilding targets.
Pub owner threatened with legal action over mural 03/07/2024 A landlord has been threatened with legal action by the local council after he commissioned a painting of a bull on the side of his 17th century pub.
NextGov: Resolving the housing crisis 28/06/2024 The Home Builders Federation’s (HBF) policy and external affairs manager, Laura Markus, discusses what the next government should do to tackle the housing crisis.
Labour will need to back up strategic planning 'with teeth' 27/06/2024 Labour’s proposed push for a return to strategic planning will need to be ‘backed up with teeth’, an expert has suggested.
Two-thirds of renewables projects fail to pass planning stage 25/06/2024 Almost two-thirds of applications for renewable energy projects failed to make it through the planning process in the past five years, research has revealed.
Planning officer boost needed to meet parties' housing goals 21/06/2024 A major boost to planning department resources would be needed to meet the housebuilding aims of any of the main parties, experts have said this week.
Landmark fossil fuel ruling has ‘profound’ implications for planning 20/06/2024 A historic legal judgement has ‘fundamentally changed’ the landscape around planning permission for fossil fuel extraction, campaigners have said.
Council to restrict new takeaway sites 20/06/2024 New measures to limit the development of new hot food takeaway sites have been introduced by Newcastle City Council.
Questions raised over funding for housebuilding pledges 19/06/2024 A think-tank has warned that a lack of cash for affordable housing will make political parties’ ambitious housebuilding targets difficult to achieve.
NextGov: Planning under the next government 19/06/2024 Mike Kiely, chair of the Planning Officers Society, calls on the next government to build a more efficient and effective planning system.
Planning London under Labour 17/06/2024 Grant Leggett, Executive Director and Head of Boyer’s London planning team, looks at the impact of a future Labour government on planning in London.
Norfolk opposes 184km pylon scheme 14/06/2024 Councillors in Norfolk have objected to a National Grid proposal to construct an electricity transmission line across three counties.
Birmingham councillors sign off on £1.9bn redevelopment 14/06/2024 Birmingham City Council's planning committee has given the go ahead to developer Lendlease for the £1.9bn redevelopment of the Smithfield site.