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Planning Fee Changes

by | Oct 6, 2023

Upcoming Planning Application Fee Increases

On the 26th September 2023, legislation to increase planning application fees was approved by both the House of Lords and Commons.

The legislation is to come into effect on the 6th December 2023.

The main changes to the fees are as follows:

  • All application fees will increase by 25%, rising to 35% for ‘major’ schemes.
  • Provision of a ‘Free-Go’ for application re-submissions will be removed entirely.
  • Introduction of an annual increase in application fees from April 2025 linked to inflation (capped at 10%).
  • The ‘planning guarantee’ time period will be reduced from 26 weeks to 16 weeks to be eligible for a refund of fees for non determination of any non-major applications (including householder development).

A full list of the amended planning application fees can be found on the Planning Portal website here.

If you have any questions about the proposed planning fee increases, or need to get a planning application submitted before these increases come into force, get in touch today to see how we can help you.

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SWDPR Regulation 22 Submission

by | Sep 29, 2023

SWDPR Regulation 22 Submission

*drum roll* SWDPR HAS BEEN SUBMITTED FOR EXAMINATION *cheering and clapping*🎉

 

On Wednesday 27th September 2023, under Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations, 2012 (as amended), the South Worcestershire Councils – Malvern Hills, Worcester City, and Wychavon – submitted the South Worcestershire Development Plan Review (SWDPR) for independent examination.

In addition to the SWDPR itself, the Councils have submitted a suite of supporting evidence and other essential documents.

In due course, the Secretary of State will appoint independent Inspector who will oversee the examination process. Their impartial guidance will ensure the examination is conducted thoroughly and fairly.

To facilitate effective communication throughout the examination period, a Programme Officer has been appointed by the Councils, who will be the first point of contact for any matters related to the examination of the plan.

The Programme Officer’s contact details, the submitted version of the SWDPR, and all accompanying documents are available to view on South Worcestershire Development Plan Review | Local Plan Examination Services

For those who prefer to review documents in person, appointments can be made between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday to Friday, at any of the South Worcestershire council offices. To arrange a visit, please get in touch with the SWDPR team using the appropriate email address below. Be sure to specify in advance which documents you wish to view.

We are delighted to share this important development in the progression of the SWDPR and encourage you to stay engaged in the examination process.

Please get in touch if we can help to answer any questions relating to how this emerging policy may affect your development proposals and/or development aspirations. You can submit a request via the contact form below, or alternatively email / call us directly at:

Email: mail@brodieplanning.co.uk
Phone: 01242 898368

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West Oxfordshire District Council’s Call for Sites

by | Sep 13, 2023

Get Involved in Shaping West Oxfordshire's Future: West Oxfordshire District Council's Call for Sites

At Brodie Planning Associates, we believe that active participation in local planning is essential for creating vibrant and sustainable communities. That’s why we’re excited to inform you about an important opportunity to have your say in shaping the future of West Oxfordshire.

West Oxfordshire District Council is running a Call for Sites, Ideas, and Opportunities as part of an 8-week focused consultation from August 30 to October 25, 2023.

This consultation is designed to gather valuable insights and ideas from the community to help shape the future of West Oxfordshire. The consultation focuses on three key elements:

1. Draft Local Plan Objectives: The Council has put forward a series of draft objectives that will guide the development of the local plan. These objectives lay the foundation for the plan’s approach and anticipated policy content.

2. The Future Pattern of Development: The Council is exploring various scenarios for the future pattern of development in West Oxfordshire up to 2041. This includes considering how and where future growth should be directed.

3. Call for Sites, Ideas, and Opportunities: An opportunity for stakeholders to put forward their thoughts on how land in the district might be used in the future such as new housing, employment, infrastructure, community use, green space, nature recovery and renewable energy.

Do you have land to promote through the Local Plan process in West Oxfordshire?

If you need help promoting land or presenting your thoughts, please get in touch today.

Contact Us Today

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Alternatively, you can email us at mail@brodieplanning.co.uk or call the office directly on 01242 898368.

Updates to NPPF – September 2023

by | Sep 6, 2023

NPPF Updates
5 September 2023

On the 5th September, the government is making new changes that will empower communities to advance onshore wind projects, leading to quicker generation of renewable energy and reduced energy bills for supportive residents.

The government has streamlined planning regulations, granting local communities a more influential role in determining the fate of onshore wind projects. This move aims to foster electricity cost savings and bolster national energy security.

These measures encompass a broader range of methods for identifying suitable locations, including community-driven initiatives, and expediting the site allocation process through alternatives to the local planning process. This approach ensures that the entire community has a voice, shifting the focus from a minority of objectors to a majority of supporters, thereby opening the door to more community-supported onshore wind projects.

Importantly, local policies regarding onshore wind will continue to be decided by elected local councillors, who are accountable to their constituents. Projects will move forward when they can demonstrate local support and address planning concerns raised by the community.

Furthermore, communities endorsing local wind farms could stand to benefit from reduced energy costs, thanks to proposals designed to incentivize more projects. The government has sought input on measures to enhance the benefits and rewards for communities supporting onshore wind farms and will unveil the next steps in this process later this Autumn.

In a post on Gov.UK on the 5th September, the Government confirmed that:

  • Communities are able to bring forward proposals for onshore wind – planning policy will be changed to make clear onshore wind developments can be identified in several ways rather than through local plans. This includes through Local Development Orders and Community Right to Build Orders.
  • Councils should consider the views of the whole community, rather than a small minority, when considering a planning application. This includes addressing the planning impact of onshore wind projects as identified by local communities.

If you have any queries regarding the updated NPPF, or any other planning matters, please use the form below to contact our team today.

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Building Abroad in the Andes – Uyuni Bolivia

Building Abroad in the Andes – Uyuni Bolivia

by | Sep 7, 2018

Building Abroad

Nestled amongst the Andes in South West Bolivia, this small town appeals to a worldwide audience. Its salt lake and lithium deposits bring people from North America, Europe and Asia. As such this was an exciting opportunity for us.

The small town is undergoing rapid development including gentrification of the centre. Our client purchased a corner plot in an ideal location close to the central promenade. Her ambition was to create a hotel with a restaurant and shops.

After an initial meeting with her we were clear on what she wanted. However, firstly we had to be mindful of the local situation. Architectural laws and building requirements; building materials and construction methods; extremes of temperature, local flooding and so on. Could we feasible achieve her dream within budget?

We worked with a local builder, contractors and the local government to ensure we complied with the regulations and could source the necessary materials. Once we understood what was possible we had the important task of designing the building. It would require a fundamentally different approach from us.

The client wanted something simple but elegant which would be functional and stand out from the competition. Rather than simply designing a generic glassed building we used architectural elements we knew would work well combined with local features and colours to create a building with a South American feel. With the passion our team has for the built environment and a lot of hard work we drafted a number of schemes to show to the client. She settled on one for which the builder said was achievable and could be made to budget.

The project is currently in the development phase and set for competition in the following year. It showed us that we were flexible enough to deal with different requirements that initially put us out of our comfort zone. But the hard work and dedication shown by the team meant that we were able to deliver a high end project to budget over 6000 miles away from our head offices. The sense of achievement and pride felt by the team was enormous.

We deal with developments of various sizes and types across the UK (normally). Why not come to us about your project? Contact us today so we can help with your vision.

Building Abroad in the Andes

getting planning permission abroad Brodie Planning

Personal note to Kevin McCloud: A great project for Grand Designs don’t you think?