/Development & Investor Services

Starter Homes Initiative

The Government has announced 30 Starter Home Land Fund partnerships with local authorities across England, with the aim of delivering at least 30,000 starter homes by 2020.  Construction is due to start this year on the first wave of discounted homes aimed at young people aged between 23 and 40 trying to get on to the property ladder. [...]

Amendments To Neighbourhood Planning Bill

We understand that amendments to the Neighbourhood Planning Bill are emerging. One of the most significant is certain to add yet a further layer of risk to a developers planning application programme. It is proposed that the bill be altered to include a requirement for local planning authorities to consult neighbourhood planning bodies on decisions [...]

December 14th, 2016|Developers, Development & Investor Services, Housebuilders, Housing Associations, Housing Consultancy, Planning, Property Companies, Property Fund Managers, Property Pension Funds|Comments Off on Amendments To Neighbourhood Planning Bill

Great New For Birmingham

  The Planning & Housing Minister, Gavin Barwell has lifted his earlier holding decision made in May 2016 preventing the adoption of the replacement Birmingham City Council Development Plan. The City Council had to provide further evidence that it had maximised the identification of available brown field sites within the urban area for housing before moving [...]

The Court of Appeal Clarifies The Weight That A Planning Authority Should Place Regarding Impact On Heritage Assets Arising From Development

The Court of Appeal recently considered a case, Palmer vs Herefordshire Council & Another that provides further clarity on the weight that should be given to the possible effect of development on listed heritage assets and how application reports to a Planning Committee should be drafted. The decision confirms that under S66 of the Planning [...]

December 5th, 2016|Developers, Development & Investor Services, Housebuilders, Housing Associations, Housing Consultancy, Planning, Property Companies, Property Fund Managers, Property Pension Funds|Comments Off on The Court of Appeal Clarifies The Weight That A Planning Authority Should Place Regarding Impact On Heritage Assets Arising From Development

High Court Planning News – Planning Restrictions on Second Home Ownership

  The High Court has found a policy detailed in the St. Ives Neighbourhood Plan that prevents new housing being used as second homes to be lawful. The St. Ives town Neighbourhood Plan is the first in the UK to restrict occupancy of any new dwelling as ‘Principal Residence’. This is solely aimed at decreasing [...]

November 23rd, 2016|Developers, Development & Investor Services, Housebuilders, Housing Associations, Housing Consultancy, Planning, Property Companies, Property Fund Managers, Property Pension Funds|Comments Off on High Court Planning News – Planning Restrictions on Second Home Ownership

Network Rail to Release Land For 12,000 New Homes by 2020

  The news regarding the disposal of up to 30% of the defence estate also comes as Network Rail announces plans to unlock land for 12,000 new homes by 2020.  Around 5,000 homes will be developed on surplus sites in London, 3,000 in Manchester and the north, 1,700 in the Midlands and East and 1,400 [...]

November 14th, 2016|Developers, Development & Investor Services, Housebuilders, Housing Associations, Housing Consultancy, Planning, Property Companies, Property Fund Managers, Property Pension Funds|Comments Off on Network Rail to Release Land For 12,000 New Homes by 2020

Congratulations to Ian Playford MRICS

  Ian is an old mate of mine and I would therefore like to send Ian our congratulations on his new role as CEO [interim] of the Cabinet Office Central Property unit. The Government press release on Ian’s new role suggests he will be focusing on the Government’s initiative to rationalise its owned and leased estate [...]

November 14th, 2016|Developers, Development & Investor Services, Housebuilders, Housing Associations, Housing Consultancy, Planning, Property Companies, Property Fund Managers, Property Pension Funds|Comments Off on Congratulations to Ian Playford MRICS

MOD To Dispose of 30% of Its Estate

  The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it is the Government’s intention to dispose of a considerable number of additional military and defence related sites with many to be sold by 2021.  Last year’s Strategic Defence Review outlined the MOD’s aim to reduce the size of the defence estate by 30% before 2040.  The latest [...]

Affordable Housing Policy Precedent Set By Court of Appeal

Very recently the Court of Appeal overturned the previous High Court decision in favour of various local authorities that the 2014 Government affordable housing policy relating to small schemes and the Vacant Building Credit was unlawful. The Court of Appeal has ruled this was an incorrect decision. They ruled Vacant Building Credit relating to empty [...]

May 31st, 2016|Development & Investor Services, Housing Consultancy, Planning|Comments Off on Affordable Housing Policy Precedent Set By Court of Appeal

Significant Changes Made to Climate Change Allowances

The EA has released a range of revised allowances relating to various components of climate change such as ‘peak river flow allowances, peak rainfall intensity allowance and offshore wind speed ‘ among others. The EA has looked at every river basin catchment and coastal area and has adopted more onerous climate change allowances. Amongst other [...]

February 25th, 2016|Development & Investor Services, Housing Consultancy, Planning|Comments Off on Significant Changes Made to Climate Change Allowances