header-logo header-logo

All good plans…

30 May 2014
Issue: 7608 / Categories: Features , Property
printer mail-detail
web_advertorial_0

Is the NPFF undermining confidence in the planning system, asks Perran Moon

The requirement to streamline planning has been high on the government’s agenda. The Localism Act came into play over two years ago, with the intention of simplifying planning, ensuring that decisions about housing are taken locally. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPFF) sought to increase the supply of new homes and create a framework for local people, together with “accountable councils”, to shape their own distinctive local and neighbourhood plans.

 

Risk associated to planning

Two years in and there are concerns that in fact, the NPPF is undermining confidence in the planning system. With “a presumption in favour of sustainable development” acting as a “golden thread” that runs through plan-making and decision-taking at its core, it can be argued that the NPPF has led to councils being forced to approve ad-hoc planning applications. This in turn has led to uncoordinated, reactive infrastructure and inconsistent approval criteria.

The situation means that there is an increasing risk associated with property purchases in England and Wales. For

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in July that overturned the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo, once poster boys of the Libor and Euribor scandal. In NLJ this week, Neil Swift of Peters & Peters considers what the ruling means for financial law enforcement
Bea Rossetto of the National Pro Bono Centre makes the case for ‘General Practice Pro Bono’—using core legal skills to deliver life-changing support, without the need for niche expertise—in this week's NLJ
Charlie Mercer and Astrid Gillam of Stewarts crunch the numbers on civil fraud claims in the English courts, in this week's NLJ. New data shows civil fraud claims rising steadily since 2014, with the King’s Bench Division overtaking the Commercial Court as the forum of choice for lower-value disputes
Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll