Planning Laws

New report says 'wealth investment' is reducing Londoners' access to housing

04 May 2020

A report launched at the end of April claims that there are are an estimated 125,000 homes in London with no-one living in them. It calls for a robust register of residential property ownership and usage and effective regulation of second homes and short-term lets and says that local authorities should be given planning powers and resources to ensure homes are built for residential use rather than as wealth investments.

Cross-party support for enhanced control of office-to-flat conversions

29 September 2019

Campaigners opposed to the indiscrimate conversion of offices into flats have welcomed support from both sides of the political divide on Enfield Council, among them council leader Nesil Caliskan. Council officers are currently investigating whether there is a strong enough case to apply for an 'Article 4 direction'. This would remove 'permitted development rights' which allow developers to carry out such conversions without obtaining planning permission.

Civic movement umbrella body concerned about proposed changes to planning law

12 December 2018

The charity Civic Voice has raised concerns about proposed changes to planning law that would provide more scope for property owners to make changes without requiring planning permission

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New National Planning Policy Framework explained

05 August 2018

The planning consultancy Lichfields has published a guide to the new revision of the National Planning Policy Framework

Campaigners call for support to protect England's pubs

27 January 2017

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) is calling on everyone concerned about the rate at which pubs are closing to back a move to change planning law by contacting members of the House of Lords using the e-activist website. The owners of the Green Dragon were able to turn it into a shop without planning permission or any kind of notice, leading to the loss of a notable local community amenityUnder current planning law in England, permitted development rights on pubs mean that they can be.......

London laundrettes at risk of disappearance?

05 March 2016

The Mayorwatch blog reports that the Green candidate for Mayor, Sian Berry, has warned that changes to planning laws will pose a threat to the continued availability of laundrettes throughout the capital. The risk arises because the government intends to make temporary "permitted development" rules permanent and to extend them to cover light industrial buildings and laundrettes. Property owners would be able to convert such premises to housing without obtaining planning permission from.......

Change in planning laws is good news for pub rescue campaigners

23 March 2015

Campaigners trying to prevent the conversion or demolition of local pubs, such as the Green Dragon in Winchmore Hill and the Fox in Palmers Green, received some good news today, when the government announced a change to planning laws. From 6 April where a pub has been nominated or listed as an Asset of Community Value, a planning application will be required before a change of use or demolition. Though this will not prevent eventual conversion or demolition, it will provide an opportunity for.......

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