Ashfords Solicitors - Planning and Environment

Planning Reform Bill - Nationally significant infrastructure projects

A major change proposed by the Planning Reform Bill is to create a new development consent regime for nationally significant infrastructure projects. Currently such consents are provided for in a range of legislation. Applications for the necessary permissions and consents must generally be made to the relevant minister, following which a public inquiry is held, and the Inspector reports to the minister with their recommendation.

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Planning Reform Bill - Changes to existing provisions

The Planning Bill introduces a variety of proposals which were originally set out in the Planning White Paper in 2007. It deals with the latest embodiment of the Government's proposals for planning gain supplement, now called the Community Infrastructure Levy, and a new set of proposals relating to major infrastructure projects, as well as changes to the existing planning regime. This article deals with the changes to the existing planning legislation, and further articles will deal with the CIL and major infrastructure projects.

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Planning Reform Bill - The Community Infrastructure Levy

On the 27th November 2007 the Government published the Planning Reform Bill.

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Anticipating the Planning Gain Supplement

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Japanese Knotweed on Development Sites

Japanese Knotweed is an invasive, non-native plant which can cause extensive damage to building foundations, roads and other constructions. It can also choke and damage riverbanks and is a litter trap. The Environment Agency has now published a code of practice on managing Japanese Knotweed on developments sites, "The Knotweed Code of Practice".

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Statutory enforcement notices - the importance of proper service

The recent High Court case of Butland v Powys County Council (15 March 2007), although peculiar to the facts, is a timely reminder to local authorities and other public authorities of the importance of proper service of enforcement notices.

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Village Greens: a developers nightmare

Applications to have land registered as village greens are increasingly being used to frustrate development. Registration of land as a village green establishes a public right to use it which effectively prevents its development. Publicity relating to the Commons Act 2006 is likely to make this a greater problem for developers.

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Recent Case Law Developments in Contaminated Land

National Grid Gas

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