Have We Got Planning News For You

Our Special Guest this week, returning for a fourth time, is Joanna Averley, Chief Planner at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. We ask Joanna about the current and pending reforms to planning law and policy. An Appeal Decision involving Churchill Retirement Living against Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council regarding planning permission for redevelopment to form a multigenerational community comprising 177 open market, affordable and retirement living apartments, 237 square metres of Class E commercial space, communal facilities, access, car parking, landscaping and all associated works at the former Southern Gas Network Site, Christchurch. The appeal was made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended) against a failure to give notice within the prescribed period of a decision on an application for planning permission. A Decision of the Secretary of State for Transport on the proposed expansion of Luton Airport. The application would grant development consent for the expansion of London Luton Airport to enable an increase in overall passenger capacity to 32 million passengers per year. The application also includes the construction of a new passenger terminal, additional aircraft stands and associated redevelopment of existing facilities and infrastructure. An Appeal Decision involving Galliford Try Investments (GTI) against the decision of Milton Keynes Council with the view to demolish a vacant 2-storey building (Class E) and the erection of a 33-storey building comprising commercial floor space (Class E) on the ground floor and mezzanine level with residential units on upper floors comprising up to 302 dwellings and associated works, at Jaipur and Orchard Lounge, 599 Grafton Gate, Milton Keynes. The appeal was made under section 78 of the Town and Country Planning (T&CP) Act 1990 (as amended) against a refusal to grant planning permission. Visit our Website: hwgpnfy.com [https://havewegotplanningnewsforyou.com]

Our Special Guest this week is Jason Prior, Chief Executive of Prior + Partners, whose projects include the 2012 London Olympics, Rio 2016, Google's California Campus and a new city in Saudi Arabia. A Decision of the High Court involving the National Farmers Union, Herefordshire Council, The Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and River Action UK relating to challenging the lawfulness of policy W3 of the Herefordshire Minerals and Waste Local Plan (“MWLP”). Policy W3 refers to Agricultural waste management, including for livestock units. A Decision of the Court of Appeal relating to the objection of a proposed construction of a 15-meter-high mobile phone mast by Cignal Infrastructure Limited on behalf of the mobile network operator Three, on a site located within Cheltenham’s Central Conservation area. An Appeal Decision regarding a proposed development of up to 190 homes by Persimmon Homes Severn Valley on Land at Rectory Farm North, Chescombe Road, Yatton. The 190 homes are comprised of flats, semi-detatched, detatched and terraced housing with 50% of them being affordable. Visit our Website: hwgpnfy.com [https://havewegotplanningnewsforyou.com]

This episode is dedicated to the memory and friend of the show, Jonathan Easton KC, who sadly passed away from bowel cancer on the morning of the 2nd of March 2025. Jonathan's family have nominated both St John's Hospice and Bowel Cancer UK as charities to donate to in his memory. If you can spare anything at all to donate to these two wonderful organisations, we would be forever grateful. St John's Hospice, North Lancashire & South Lakes [https://www.sjhospice.org.uk/] Bowel Cancer UK [https://www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk/] Our Special Guest this week is Victoria Hills MRTPI FICE and is the Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute. Victoria is joining us to talk about the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill. An appeal decision from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on behalf of the Secretary of State regarding a solar project on land located in Melton Borough Council. An appeal decision regarding planning permission for 95 dwellings with associated access, parking and landscape; and outline application for 5 self-build plots, with access discharged, on land at 722 Kenilworth Road and land adjacent to Harper Fields Care Home in Balsall Common. An appeal decision from the Minister of State for Housing and Planning on behalf of the Secretary of State regarding a New Motorway Service area between junctions 7 and 8 of the M56 in Tatton, Cheshire. Visit our Website: hwgpnfy.com [https://havewegotplanningnewsforyou.com]

Our Special Guest this week is Níall McLaughlin RA. Níall is Professor of Architectural Practice at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. Latest News Update on planning related matters. A High Court Judgement where Amalgamated Smart Metering Ltd filed a claim form seeking permission to apply for judicial review of the decision of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council dated 22 February 2024 to grant outline planning permission for residential development comprising up to 120 units including details of means of access at a former bus depot at Midland Road, Masbrough, Rotherham. The application for planning permission had been made by Prospect Estates Ltd. An Appeal Decision regarding planning permission for a temporary 49.35MW battery energy storage facility, with security fencing, access and associated works on land off Chapel Lane, Great Barr, Walsall in accordance with the terms of the application, Ref 23/1286 dated 4 October 2023. One of the first decisions to consider the issue of ‘grey belt’ land in favour of the Appellant. An Appeal Decision regarding a development proposed for a sand and gravel quarry with progressive restoration using site derived and imported inert material to agricultural parkland, public access and nature enhancement. This decision supersedes that issued on 5 May 2023. That decision on the appeal was quashed by order of the High Court. Visit our website: hwgpnfy.com [https://havewegotplanningnewsforyou.com]

Our Special Guest this week is Lord Ben Houchen, Mayor of the Tees Valley to discuss the English Devolution White Paper published by MHCLG before Christmas. The proposal gives Mayors new responsibilities for strategic planning and much more. Latest News Update on planning related matters. Decision of the Court of Appeal dated 11 December 2024 which deals in great detail with the service provisions relating to Section 288 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 relating to the statutory right of appeal after an Inspectors decision by way of Section 78 and a detailed examination of the requirements in law relating to both lodging the proceedings in court and service under that statutory provision. This is a seminal decision for anyone who is or might be involved in planning appeals litigation. Decision of an Inspector dated 9 January 2025 which deals with the service of an enforcement notice by Royal Borough of Greenwich relating to a 15 storey and 23 storey residential blocks requiring the demolition of the building in which the Inspector upheld the notice but crucially allowed the retention of the buildings by materially amending the requirements of the notice. Decision of an Inspector dated 7 January 2025 which deals with a significant solar farm proposal for 47.28 MWp in Mid Suffolk District Council in which the Inspector granted planning permission by concluding that the proposal was supported by the planning balance and that the proposal accorded with the development plan as a whole and the appeal should be allowed. Visit our Website: hwgpnfy.com [https://havewegotplanningnewsforyou.com/] #HWGPNFY