Competition watchdog to investigate land banks, planning system and private rental sector – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 30th, 2023 in competition, housing, inquiries, landlord & tenant, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published an update on its housebuilding and private rental market inquiry, formally launched in February.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 29th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Landowner who felled more than a hundred trees told to replant them – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 30th, 2023 in environmental protection, local government, London, news, planning, trees by sally

‘The London Borough of Bromley has said it is considering all legal measures after ordering a landowner to replace 131 trees that were felled without permission.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 29th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Consultation on Permitted Development: Relaxing the Rules – 4-5 Gray’s Inn Square

‘On Monday 24 July 2023, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Michael Gove, announced new proposals from the Government to support housing development.’

Full Story

4-5 Gray's Inn Square, 27th July 2023

Source: www.4-5.co.uk

High Court judge rules inspector erred in law over scope of power to require removal of operational development – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 11th, 2023 in appeals, enforcement notices, housing, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘The High Court has decided that a planning inspector erred in law over a dispute about an enforcement notice served by Buckinghamshire Council.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Transport Secretary wins Supreme Court appeal over determinations on certificates of appropriate alternative development -Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court has allowed an appeal by the Secretary of State for Transport over the way in which compensation is calculated for land compulsory purchased for Birmingham’s Curzon Street HS2 station.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Ffos-y-Fran: Campaigners go to courts to stop mine digging for coal – BBC News

‘Climate campaigners are taking legal action to try and force the closure of the UK’s largest opencast coalmine.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Bibby Stockholm: Ministers face legal action over barge planning permissions – BBC News

Posted August 10th, 2023 in asylum, housing, local government, news, planning, ships by tracey

‘Ministers are facing legal action from the Mayor of Portland over the Bibby Stockholm migrant accommodation barge.’

Full Story

BBC News, 10th August 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Developer wins partial award of costs following council’s “unreasonable behaviour” – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 10th, 2023 in appeals, costs, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘Property developer Berkeley Homes has won an appeal to demolish old offices in Sevenoaks and construct a new flatted development for 69 residential units.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 10th August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Council defeats Court of Appeal challenge over rule in constitution on councillor voting and deferred planning applications – Local Government Lawyer

Posted August 3rd, 2023 in local government, London, news, planning, ultra vires by sally

‘The London Borough of Tower Hamlets was entitled to make a rule that only councillors who had been present when a planning application had previously been considered could vote on deferred applications, the Court of Appeal has found.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 3rd August 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

M&S decision brings embodied carbon impacts to fore in re-development v refurbishment debate – OUT-LAW.com

Posted July 24th, 2023 in climate change, environmental protection, news, planning by tracey

‘The recent decision in relation to Marks & Spencer’s flagship Oxford Street store highlights the increasing scrutiny being placed on the embodied carbon associated with re-development.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 21st July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Section 106s and all that – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 24th, 2023 in housing, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘While the case law on s.106 issues should now be settled, two recent decisions, like London red buses, come along as useful additions to the planning practitioner’s e-library, writes John Pugh-Smith.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Waiving or varying a requirement in an enforcement notice – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 21st, 2023 in appeals, enforcement notices, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘The Divisional Court has ruled on the power to waive or relax an enforcement notice under Section 172A. Melissa Murphy KC and Charles Streeten look at the outcome.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 21st July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Judge rejects challenge to Surrey Hills oil and gas exploration plans – The Guardian

‘Fossil fuel prospectors have cleared another hurdle on their path to drill for oil and gas near an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) in the Surrey Hills after campaigners lost a judicial review of the plan.’

Full Story

The Guardian, 20th July 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

NHS trust brings judicial review against three councils in bid to secure £1.8m in developer contributions – Local Government Lawyer

Posted July 10th, 2023 in budgets, hospitals, housing, judicial review, local government, news, planning by sally

‘The High Court is set to hear a challenge from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust over a decision by three local councils to refuse its request for developer contributions towards healthcare service provision before approving a 2,200-dwelling development.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 7th July 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Landmark Sizewell C ruling instructive for projects of all shapes and sizes – OUT-LAW.com

‘The High Court’s ruling that the UK government’s approval of the proposed Sizewell C nuclear power plant was lawful contains valuable reminders on how projects of all shapes and sizes should approach environmental assessments.’

Full Story

OUT-LAW.com, 6th July 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Rhiannon Ogden-Jones: Legal Uncertainty and the Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill 2023 – UK Constitutional Law Association

Posted July 3rd, 2023 in bills, constitutional law, local government, news, planning by tracey

‘The Levelling-Up and Regeneration Bill (“LURB”), currently before the House of Lords, aims to facilitate the government’s levelling-up agenda, which was set out in the ‘Levelling-Up the United Kingdom’ White Paper in 2022. At 222 clauses and 18 schedules, full consideration of the Bill (as amended in Committee, 24th May 2023) would require more than a blog post, but its legislative aims can be somewhat succinctly expressed. The Bill proposes a scheme of local government and planning reforms, each aimed at promoting regional growth and “levelling-up”. Part I sets out the scope of levelling-up, detailing the obligations of the government in determining a levelling-up agenda. Part II then proposes a series of reforms to local democracy, devolving governance powers further to county councils, and giving them greater control to determine regional projects. The theme of project infrastructure continues, with Parts III-V and VIII-IX of the Bill reforming planning law and establishing different support mechanisms for development, including an infrastructure levy and providing for development corporations. Alongside the planning provisions, Parts VI-VII reform Environmental Impact Assessments and Nutrient Pollution Standards, establishing a new framework for these environmental tests.’

Full Story

UK Constitutional Law Association, 28th June 2023

Source: ukconstitutionallaw.org

Cardiff: Hailey Park sewage pumping station legal bid starts – BBC News

Posted June 30th, 2023 in judicial review, local government, news, parks, planning, sewerage, Wales, waste, water by tracey

‘A judicial review of plans to build a sewage pumping station in a popular park has begun.’

Full Story

BBC News, 29th June 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

All Tomorrow’s (Section 106) Parties – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 23rd, 2023 in local government, news, planning by tracey

‘Simon Ricketts examines who needs to be a party to a section 106 agreement in light of a recent High Court ruling.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 23rd June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Planning enforcement and equalities duties – Local Government Lawyer

‘A recent High Court ruling shows that equalities duties must be treated differently, writes Roderick Morton.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 16th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Supreme Court to hear case on environmental impact assessments and downstream greenhouse gas emissions next week – Local Government Lawyer

‘The Supreme Court will next week (21-22 June) hear a case brought against Surrey County Council over whether the local authority acted unlawfully by not requiring an impact assessment of a proposed oil well’s impact on downstream greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions before granting planning permission.’

Full Story

Local Government Lawyer, 13th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk