The Central Bedfordshire Local Plan was submitted to the government for examination in April 2018. Two Inspectors appointed to examine the Local Plan held hearing sessions between 21 May and 25 July 2019 and 8 December and 18 December 2020. The Inspectors have now published their Final Report which can be viewed here. Overall, [...]

From 28 June 2021 First Homes will be part of the Planning System.  This change to National Planning Policy requires that at least 25% of all affordable homes delivered through developer contributions should be sold as First Homes. First Homes are discounted market sale units which: a) must be discounted by a minimum of [...]

New Permitted Development rights for the change from Class E uses to dwellings has now been published. In September 2020 Use Class E (Commercial, Business and Service) was introduced.  This includes: E(a) Display or retail sale of goods, other than hot food E(b) Sale of food and drink for consumption (mostly) on the premises E(c) Provision of: E(c)(i) Financial [...]

The East West Rail (EWR) Project has launched a consultation on the proposals for this once in a generation opportunity to provide frequent, fast and reliable rail links for communities between Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge, connecting people with the things that matter most to them.  This will provide the local transport connectivity across [...]

Paragraph 170 of the National Planning Policy Framework seeks to protect and enhance valued landsacpes.  This has been the subject of a number of appeal decisions and again recently in a High Court challenge R (Campaign to Protect Rural England) v Herefordshire Council [2019] EWHC 3458 (Admin).  The court followed the guidance from the [...]

A new permitted development right will come into force on 31 August 2020 to allow demolition and rebuilding of vacant and redundant free-standing commercial and light industrial premises, and residential blocks of flats, as new residential units. At the same time the right will allow up to 2 storeys to be added to the [...]

New permitted development rights were introduced on 1 August 2020 to allow the creation of new homes and living space through upward extensions. These Regulations allow purpose-built freestanding blocks of flats of three storeys or more to extend upwards by up to 2 additional storeys to create new homes, up to a height of [...]

The government are committed to delivering the ambition of up to a million new homes by 2050 across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc Growth Corridor to maximise its sustainable economic growth. To make that vision a reality, £445 million is being provided to the Didcot and Cambridge infrastructure projects. The government have also secured a joint [...]

The Cambridge – Milton Keynes – Oxford growth arc (CaMkOx) is underpinned by transport proposals including the East West Rail upgrade and the Oxford-Cambridge Expressway. This includes the upgrade of the Marston Vale line in Bedfordshire. Proposed residential and commercial developments in the area will benefit from greater accessibility and sustainable modes of travel. The [...]

Do you have land on the edge of settlements? Or redundant rural buildings? Current national planning policy encourages the provision of new homes on the edge of settlements and conversion of redundant agricultural buildings.  The revised National Planning Policy Framework has added emphasis to small sites of less than a hectare.  Is your local Council [...]