National Update The limited local elections at the beginning of May, involving 23 mainly county and unitary councils, saw massive losses for Labour and the Conservatives, losing 66% and 68% of their councillors respectively. Reform UK did very well, gaining 677 councillors, control of 10 councils, two regional mayors and …

Senior Account Director Jim has over a decade of experience in public affairs, policy and communications roles. He has significant experience engaging with the infrastructure, having led a sustainable business parliamentary group that specifically looked at ways to improve the public policy regarding the built environment. This included looking at …

Amid a growing international trade crisis being caused by US President, Donald Trump, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, made a Spring Statement in the House of Commons on Wednesday 27th March, where housing and house building targets played a prominent part. She pointed to changes to the National …

A few years ago, the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) published an article (https://www.rtpi.org.uk/research-rtpi/2020/september/planning-through-zoning/) regarding ‘Planning Through Zoning’. ‘Zoning’, common in other countries, such as in the USA and in Hong Kong, where regulatory zoning plans are used as the principle means to control development in some areas, would be …

On Tuesday 11th March, the First Reading of the UK Government’s much publicised Planning and Infrastructure Bill was published, followed with a debate on the floor of the House of Commons (the latest version of the Bill is here. This Bill aims to accelerate development and streamline the planning system …

We are all very aware of the financial barriers which are holding back first-time buyers for housing in the UK. Between rising house prices and stagnant salaries, it has become nearly impossible for most people to get on the property ladder. Despite this ongoing media driven national narrative, it was …

On 10 February, the Government approved 10 councils to be in its Devolution Priority Programme (DPP) including Cumbria, Cheshire and Warrington, Norfolk and Suffolk, Greater Essex, Sussex and Brighton and Hampshire and Solent. These areas will need to follow an ambitious devolution timetable, with MHCLG consultations already started. Councils have …

Chelgate Local helped obtained consent for two projects during February: a 480-home Redrow Eastern project west of Billericay in Essex was approved by Basildon Council, and a 45-home Bellway Thames Gateway project in Chipping Ongar, also in Essex, was approved by Epping Forest Council. London Road, Billericay Redrow Homes Eastern …