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Government Consultation: Planning for the Future

In August 2020, the Government published a White Paper for consultation entitled "Planning for the Future". In the foreword by the Prime Minister, it promises to be "radical reform unlike anything we have seen since the second world...

What Is A Section 106 Agreement?

A  section 106 agreement  is an agreement between a developer and a local planning authority about measures that the developer must take to reduce their impact on the community. A section 106 agreement is designed to make a development possible...

An important judgement in relation to permitted development rights

An important judgement in relation to the interpretation of householders' permitted development rights . On Wednesday 15 June 2016 Judgement was given in Hilton v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (CO/309/2016), in which we...

Welcome to Our New Website!

We've been a little quiet on our news page lately, but working hard behind the scenes to revamp our website!

Read on to see what improvements we've made and how they can help you. 

Our Ten Most Popular Planning Law Posts

Time for a retrospective here at Kingsley Smith Solicitors, as we look back over our most popular articles, and see what they say about the state of planning law. We post a diverse range of articles, so we were interested to see which ones people really...

Fresh Trend Towards Sustainable Development

If you're considering a new build or extension, it's always worth staying on top of the latest trends in planning law. At its core, after all, development is about people, so it is by nature a very sociable sort of world. Ideas spread quickly from...

Government Announces New Taskforce To Increase Housing Supply

The government has recently announced the creation of a new taskforce dedicated to improving the supply of housing. The Housing Implementation Taskforce will seek to monitor the government’s progress on housing, identify roadblocks and blockages, and...

How Far Can You Take A Planning Application?

Recently the outgoing communities minister Eric Pickles decided not to contest legal challenges against decisions he made about significant developments proposing 450 homes to be built across two towns. These developments were both recommended for approval...

Housing Standard Requirements Coming Into Force

New government-mandated housing standard requirements have come into force, as of March 27th 2015. The new rules are part of a general drive to simplify and streamline requirements for the builders of new homes, and in general to stimulate and encourage the...

Why Are Local Development Frameworks So Important?

We've talked about Local Development Frameworks, or LDFs and their relevance to planning law a lot in some of our news articles. They're not directly addressed all that often on planning solicitor websites like ours because the practical...

Housing Becomes Key Political Issue Before General Election

This election year, it seems as though homes and housing development will be one of the most serious political issues on agenda. At a recent Homes For Britain rally, figures as disparate as respected filmmaker and activist Ken Loach and UKIP leader Nigel...

Planning Law In The Infrastructure Act 2015

The Infrastructure Act became law on 12 th February 2015, and brought with it a large number of changes for planning law. Planning solicitors should pay close attention to this act, as it is likely to necessitate significant changes to current planning...

Changes To Planning Law Designed To Protect Pubs

The government has announced that it is considering making changes to planning legislation to protect pubs which are considered ACV , or "Assets of Community Value". ACV-listed pubs will, should the changes go through, require planning permission...

Which Areas Made The Government Housing Zone Shortlist?

As of the eighth of January 2015, the government has announced a shortlist of areas to become housing zones, designed to alleviate pressure on the housing market and encourage development. The Government Housing Zone shortlist is a selection of...

Councils Feel Benefits Of Over £3 Billion New Homes Bonus

The Housing Minister recently confirmed that councils have received £3.4 billion as a bonus for enabling or allowing the construction or conversion of 800,000 new homes. Mr. Lewis claimed that the impressive figures showed that communities are happy...

Local Government Committee Slams Planning Law Policy

The Communities and Local Government Committee has slammed planning law policy, in a move that could lead to restrictions being imposed on planning change of use. Image by Andrew Rivett Ultimately, the committee has actually praised the goal...

The Ditch That Cost Half A Million Pounds

A ditch in Cheshire has become the centre of a dispute that has cost both parties more than a combined £500,000 as an alpaca and wallaby-breeding pair face off against a high-powered business couple. Bemused by the case, the Lord Justice Bean remarked...

What Are My Permitted Development Rights?

Permitted development rights can be confusing, and s ince the permitted extension development rights changes of  30th  May 2014, the situation has changed still further. T his infographic should help you work out where you stand.  (Click...

Brighton Covered In Fake Planning Application Notices

Playfully subversive fake planning application notices have popped up all over Brighton. The planning applications are the work of comedy blogger, powerpoint comedian and serial prankster Phil Lucas, and range from the surreal (building a giant otter's...

Shisha Lounges Closed For Planning Law Violations

A London council has recently taken the relatively rare step of demolishing two shisha lounges built in East Ham. The two lounges were in violation of planning laws, but more importantly ignored demands made in the form of enforcement notices and even...

Twenty Inspiring Architecture Pinterest Boards

If you're thinking of building an extension, developing on your land or planning any sort of significant adjustment to your house, these boards have plenty of cool ideas to draw from. Ranging from mainstream urban architecture to quirky treehouse and...

Over 5000 Homes Approved By Ashford Borough Council, Kent

A controversial development in Ashford, Kent, opposed by grassroots campaigners, has been approved by the Ashford Borough Council Planning Committee recently. Ten councillors voted for the development, which is to take place in Chilmington Green, with two...

Buildings In Incredible Places

When it comes to planning law, location is everything. We love seeing buildings in amazing places, and we love working to get them built. In honour of the creation of amazing buildings in amazing places, we therefore give you our favourite examples of...

Five Stunning Building Extensions

We spend a lot of time talking and thinking about extensions – especially when it comes to listed buildings – but not nearly enough time looking at the beautiful end results. Whether you're looking for inspiration or procrastination,...

Planning Law Changes Well On Their Way

More planning law changes are on the way, causing excitement in the planning law world. It seems as though the newer changes go far beyond the streamlining and fat-trimming operations originally associated with this government's planning initiatives, and...
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