Our urban areas have seen a loss of green garden space, where people have paved their front gardens to create car parking areas. Now, the Government proposes that householders could have much larger extensions without needing to apply for planning permission. Currently the average house can have a permitted development extension of three to four metres at the rear. But the Government in their proposals to ease planning restrictions have suggested that this could increase to eight metres.

After having spent all of my working life with PPG's and PPS's, we now have to throw all of our town planning policy guidance into the recycling bin. Instead, all Government policy is contained within 59 pages of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). I do not imagine that the Government will stick to having all of its policy being contained within just 59 pages. I suspect that over time we will have additional guidance to fill some of the gaps that emerge following the withdrawal of ministerial advice on policy and procedure.

Following on from their successful Conference about the new planning legislation, held in Newport on 26th November last year, the Island branch of CPRE (Campaign to Protect Rural England) and IWALC (IW Association of Local Councils) have co-sponsored a set of follow-up training evenings around the Isle of Wight.

CPRE/NALC training on the planning system in Bembridge

We know that some of our clients need an answer to a specific town planning query, but do not always want to engage a consultant to manage the whole case on their behalf. It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain advice from Local Authorities on planning matters. Some authorities now even charge a fee for informal pre-application discussions.

On Saturday 26th November, Martha James MRTPI helped organise a conference for CPRE and IWALC on the planning system post Localism Act. The event was attended by over one hundred people, including Andrew Turner MP, County Councillors, representatives of non-profit organisations and interested members of the public.

Here's a video about a planning case that made national news, now successfully resolved with our expert advice!

Martha James MRTPI discusses a recent successful appeal against a Local Authority refusal of planning permission with client Mr. Watts. The local authority had tried to prevent the construction of a house on the basis that it represented "garden grabbing". The Planning Inspectorate overturned the refusal after Plan Research helped with an appeal.