Welcome to our first newsletter of 2023. Although probably now a distant memory, we trust you had an enjoyable Christmas and New Year break.    In this issue we look at: the Levelling Up Bill, which is currently at its 2nd reading in the House of Lords; the NPPF consultation, which …

We saw an interesting end to 2022 with two projects consented at committee, two new solar assignments, and some staff changes. Planning committees for 262 homes at Heybridge North Garden Suburb for Bellway and 68 homes at Codicote for Taylor Wimpey were both approved early in the month. We were …

The first part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill is to do with devolution, although the media seems to have avoided the topic as it is complex and not that controversial. The Government is wanting to devolve powers and budgets to the regions, to push power closer to the …

We hosted a seminar at Harlow College, on behalf of Willmott Dixon, in November. It looked at the connections between public procurement, planning gain, social value, and skills and training. Speakers included The Rt Hon Robert Halfon MP, minister for skills and apprenticeships, Ruth Gilbert, head of employability and skills …

The Department for Levelling Up Homes and Communities (DLUHC) did promise to publish the NPPF consultation before Christmas and, they were good to their word, the consultation was sneaked out on 22 December. The industry has until 2nd March to respond to the proposals. The Government really is between a …

It is difficult to remember a time when we did not have political turmoil – we had Brexit and COVID, the invasion of Ukraine, and then three leaders inside a few months. Hopefully, we will see a period of relative stability as we progress into 2023. The Conservatives have understandably …

This is true, and we have failed to meet their needs for many years. Local plans produced by districts, boroughs, and cities across the country rarely have provision for housing for older people, and where they do, it is usually unsophisticated and limited to care homes or sheltered accommodations. Councils …

Skills and training have been a problem in construction for decades. Many attempts have been made over the years to address this, but with only some limited success. As we come out of COVID and into a period where the Government is seeking to stimulate the economy through investment in …