Planning

Lawyers brace for judicial review battle after reforms proposed

The Law Society has published its response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s consultation on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and National Model Design Code. The Law Society welcomes the greater clarity on terms such as ‘beautiful’ but has made several suggestions for improvement of the framework and code.

The Communities Secretary, Robert Jenrick, has announced new laws aimed at protecting historic plaques, monuments and statues, all of which will now require full planning permission or listed building consent before they can be removed

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government has announced a consultation into the reform of the Right to Contest, following a new Right to Regenerate proposal which allows the public to require councils and the public sector to sell unused land and assets so that they may convert derelict buildings and vacant plots of land into new homes or community spaces

The government’s proposals on planning introduce ‘huge levels of uncertainty’ for investors, increase the burden on local authorities and contain a mysterious ‘fast track for beauty’, lawyers say