As we outlined in our previous blog on the Building Safety Bill this significant piece of legislation will effect a wholesale change to the planning and construction regime for residential developments, with a focus on increased accountability for all of those involved in the development and management of such projects. Whilst the Bill is not … Read more

In July, we wrote about the coming into force on 1 August 2021 of Planning Gateway One, the first of three new stop/go “Gateways” within the new building safety regime. At that point we awaited details of the proposed “Gateway Two Levy”, the second of the two means by which the government is seeking contributions … Read more

This blog was first published on HSF Public Law Notes on 23 July 2021. On 21 July, the Government introduced the Judicial Review and Courts Bill into Parliament. The Bill was foreshadowed in the Queen’s Speech on 11 May as part of the Government’s aim to ‘restore the balance of power between the executive, legislature and the courts’. … Read more

In February, we wrote about the government’s consultation on proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the National Model Design Code (NMDC), raising concerns which were echoed by many others about the incorporation into national planning policy and guidance of a requirement for development to be “beautiful”. Last week, the government published … Read more

Late last year, we were told as part of the “Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure” consultation that the government would consolidate and simplify permitted development (PD) rights in England. Following a technical consultation held earlier this year, this consolidation and simplification has now been achieved – the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted … Read more

On 20 July 2021, the House of Lords’ marshalled list of amendments (the Lords Report) on the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Bill (the Bill) was published. This provided some much needed amendments to the Bill which was first introduced on 13 May 2021 and on which we reported in our earlier blog. In summary, the … Read more

Back in April, we wrote about a consultation on a new proposed tax on residential property developers, the Residential Property Developer Tax (RPDT). This consultation closes on 22 July 2021, so there is still time to respond. Developers of certain types of high-rise residential buildings (including educational accommodation) also need to be aware of the … Read more