Relevant Planning News for Customers

Check back here regularly to find out what's going on at Aycliffe Planning Services.

January 2024

Latest Planning Inspectorate statistics published 

The Planning Inspectorate is a national government department which makes decisions and provides recommendations and advice on a range of land use and planning-related issues across England.

Most customers will only encounter The Planning Inspectorate if their application is refused by local authority planners as the inspectorate deals with planning appeals in England. 

The latest figures show the most recent average time to decide planning appeal cases is 29 weeks.

December 2023

Rooftop solar panel installations to fall under permitted development

The government has recently announced a change in planning legislation that permits a wider range of scenarios whereby roof mounted solar panels can be installed on homes and businesses through permitted development rights. 

This means that homeowners and businesses will no longer need to go through the full planning process prior to installation. 

Houses with flat roofs will now also be able to install panels without planning permission, bringing rules in line with those for businesses. 

Crucially, these permitted development rights are still subject to important conditions, including their use in conservation areas." 

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2023 will come into effect on 21 December 2023.  

November 2023

Government to change national policy to boost electric vehicle charging points

It has been announced by the government that national planning policy will be amended to prioritise the roll-out of charging points for electric vehicles [EVs]. 

Under the move, as part of last week’s Autumn Statement, the government will look to remove “unnecessary planning constraints” to accelerate the expansion of EV charging infrastructure. It will consult on amending the National Planning Policy Framework to ensure the planning system prioritises the roll-out of EV charge points, including EV charging hubs. 

The decision follows RAC research unveiled in May which revealed that just 27 of England’s 119 motorway service stations have met the government’s target number of six chargers, despite their now being 950,000 EV cars on UK roads.

October 2023

Levelling Up?

New laws came into force this month to speed up the planning system, hold developers to account, cut bureaucracy, and encourage more councils to put in place plans to enable the building of new homes.   

The Levelling-up and Regeneration Act is at the heart of this long-term plan and the government aims to ensure new development produces more local infrastructure, like GP surgeries, schools and transport links, enhances the environment, and creates neighbourhoods where people want to live and work.  

Building more homes in areas most in need is a key part of levelling up, and the Act will also deliver further measures to support regeneration in left-behind communities.

The government states that measures in the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act will: 

Put local people at the heart of development – making it easier to put local plans in place and requiring design codes that set out where homes will be built and how they will look. These plans will deliver more homes in a way that works for communities.

Boost local services – requiring developers to deliver vital infrastructure. This will put an end to lifeless edge-of-town developments with no community assets and ensure developers deliver the schools, doctors surgeries and public services communities need and expect. 

Rebalance the housing and land markets – giving local councils the power to increase council tax on empty homes.

Bring high streets back to life – giving councils the powers to work directly with landlords to bring empty buildings back in to use by local businesses and community groups through high street rental auctions. It will also make it faster for local authorities to give hospitality businesses permission to use outdoor seating.