By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property Chelgate Local is working with partners to help create a developers group for Hertfordshire. Discussions are ongoing with the Hertfordshire Growth Board and founding members about creating the group, its structure, governance and programme. Developers groups have …

By Ruby Burdett, Consultant  In his budget in spring last year, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced the Government’s growth plans for the area connecting Oxford and Cambridge. Almost a year later, after near radio silence on the matter, the Government has revisited the subject and has announced their …

By Kasia Banaś, Account Director   Sevenoaks Council is not giving up on its  Local Plan. Following a firm rejection of a judicial review of the Planning Inspectorate’s decision on the local plan by the High Court, the authority has now lodged an application to appeal against the ruling.  The Planning …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property The past year has been one many will understandably want to forget, but it will be remembered for a long time. Chelgate sent its staff to work from home on 10th March which, at the time, seemed a little drastic. The firm worked throughout the lock …

By Ruby Burdett, Consultant  St Albans Council has withdrawn its Local Plan for a second time. Unlike previously (2017), it decided not to judicially review the inspectors’ findings, and did not wait for the outcome of the Sevenoaks High Court challenge. The council still has the second-oldest Local Plan in the country (1994) and it now needs …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property Essex County Council (ECC) ran its first developer engagement event in November. This initiative has been instigated by Michael Hardware, in his role as ECC deputy cabinet member for economic development.  The concept is based on Chelgate Local’s successful live planning events which we ran during …

By Kasia Banaś, Account Director  After months of uncertainty, the High Court has dealt a major blow to Sevenoaks. The local authority sought a Judicial Review of the Planning Inspectorate decision on the Local Plan – but this was firmly rejected today …

By Kasia Banaś, Account Director  Since the announcement of the ‘Planning for the Future’ white paper, several authorities have either halted work on their local plans or scrapped them altogether. In response, MHCLG’s Chief Planner, Joanna Averly said that local plans will be a key element of Government’s planning reform and councils “shouldn’t take their foot off the …