By Alia Khan, Consultant  Cambridge has experienced high rates of economic growth for decades, with a particular emphasis on business research centres that lead the world in science and innovation.  It does, however, face an historic challenge in being able …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property  Not usually associated but these two districts are currently on a similar path: planning inspectors have found both wanting in their duty to cooperate with adjoining authorities. Sevenoaks was in the High Court …

By Kasia Banaś, Account Director  Maidstone Borough Council (MBC) is making critical decisions in race against the clock to keep its housing figures down. Strategic Planning and Infrastructure Committee has recommended that the Local Plan Review timeline is amended to …

The Government has embarked upon ambitious reforms both of the planning system and, at the same time, local government structure. A step too far? Perhaps not as proposals for both do seem to complement each other. It is clear, however, …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property  The starting pistol on planning reform has been fired: the Government has today published a White Paper “Planning for the Future” for consultation. This coupled with the reform of local government potentially heralds …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property Town and county halls across the country are in a state of near panic as plans are brought forward by the Government for a major restructuring of local government. This would see …

Inspectors have written to at least two authorities in Essex with unadopted local plans asking them to review their housing need numbers. This follows publication of the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) 2018 household projections. The figures, published on …

By Kasia Banaś, Account Director  In the latest developments of the St Albans’s Local Plan saga, the Council is proposing to resolve the outstanding issues through major modifications rather than withdrawing the Plan and starting anew. A draft letter to …