A new report has been published on the housebuilding industry by KFR. It says, amongst other things that: - the industry is in deep trouble and will not easily get back to its 2007 level of output - the housing being built in recent years has not been what consumers want. Politicians have forced the building of high density urban flats when people want houses with gardens. - the policy of taxing the house price bubble to fund infrastructure and affordable housing has collapsed Download the report at http://resources.knightfrank.com/GetResearchResource.ashx?id=11487 Continue Reading…

Posted on Mar 20, 2009

New household projections predict an increase of 6.3 million households in England between 2006 and 2031. Two thirds of this will be an increase in single person households. This will add upwards pressure on housebuilding targets and is viewed with concern by the Council for the Preservation of Rural England. Another consultants report states that NIMBYism is still rising and the largest category objecting to planning applications were pensioners. Conservatives were slightly more likely to object than Liberal Democrats. Continue Reading…

Posted on Mar 13, 2009

From next month householder planning appeals will have to be submitted within 12 weeks of refusal instead of 6 months at present. They will all be dealt with by the 'fast track' method which means a decision in 12 weeks rather than 6 months. Continue Reading…

Posted on Mar 13, 2009

The CBI has urged the government to allow firms to extend planning permissions from the present 3 year time limit. At the moment a fresh applications has to be made, frequently at substantial expense, uncertainty, and delay. This can have a major effect on balance sheets and lead times when the recovery comes. Mercury Planning verdict: Thoroughly agree. The reduction from 5 to 3 years for these permissions was never needed. It takes far too long to secure a permission in the first place. Government is too sensitive to the concerns of the bureaucracy and should pay more attention to the delivery of capital investment. Continue Reading…

Posted on Mar 06, 2009

The government is to launch a review of the amount of 106 contributions and of unspent contributions to report in Summer 2009. Mercury Planning verdict: This is a murky area which could do with a little daylight and sunshine. Authorities have been known to delay spending the money and using the interest for other purposes. Relying on these contributions for substantial local authority capital expenditure relies on the property market for funding, especially on inflated house prices. A return to reasonably affordable market prices for housing would have a major effect on this gravy train. Continue Reading…

Posted on Mar 06, 2009

Costs Awards for written representations appeals The government has consulted on the possibility of allowing costs awards for written representations appeals. At the moment costs can only be awarded following hearings and inquiries. The changes will be: - allowing the Inspectorate to determine the appeal method. This will remove the right to a hearing - in order to retain the right to apply for costs in all cases, costs awards will be possible in written representations cases - power for Inspectors to make minor administrative changes (e.g. to address details) without recourse to the parties - reduction in the time allowed for appeals on householder cases from 6 to 3 months - eliminate the comments stage after exchange of evidence in hearing and inquiries cases Mercury Planning comment: The Inspectorate has a focus on bureaucratic streamlining. In recent years there has been a quality control problem with inexperienced Inspectors, but this may be improving over time. They might do better to put their own house in order before they start reducing the rights of appellants. For example, if you submit an appeal electronically they just print everything out for the Inspector. This is very resource consuming. Having said that, there is overwhelming support from business and local authorities and somewhat muted, but still majority, support from third parties. The last time they reduced the appeals period from 6 to 3 months, applicants did not have enough time to obtain permission on a revised scheme before losing the right of appeal. A tidal wave of appeals overwhelmed the Inspectorate. We cannot see the merit in this restriction. Continue Reading…

Posted on Mar 06, 2009

The government has published its response to the Killiam Pretty review of red tape and will consult in the summer on: - relaxed rules for minor alterations and extensions to small business premises and public buildings - streamlined approach to minor amendments to planning permissions. This has been possible for Building regs for years but on planning you have to start all over again. A long overdue change - relaxation on changes to shopfronts - streamlining information requirements. There was an explosion in these after a recent circular. Many authorities refuse to register applications until details of method statements have been submitted. The process seems somewhat ponderous and lethargic, with a progress review in Summer 2009 and results at some unspecified point in the future. Continue Reading…

Posted on Mar 06, 2009