Recent Changes to Planning Law

On this page you can find the latest changes to planning legislation.

Please note that a number of changes to planning legislation took effect on 6th April 2010.  These include : -

• New Government guidance on information requirements and validation of planning applications
• An expansion of the range of development that is exempt from the requirement for a design and access statement
• Other changes to the General Development Procedure Order (GDPO) including amended time limits for certain categories of appeal
• the introduction of a new use class (C4), and definition, for a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) - change of use from a dwelling house to a HMO needs planning permission

and also: -

• Additional permitted development rights for industrial and warehouse development, schools and colleges, offices, and retail premises, enabling small buildings and extensions, hard surfacing, and other limited operational development subject to limitations and conditions.

For further details please contact the Design and Development section, or refer to the Communities and/or Planning Portal web sites.