Monthly Archives: May 2011

Rural councils should re-think their planning policies to make them more supportive of  the conversion of farm buildings in to affordable housing.  Councils are also urged to take in to account affordable housing when assessing individual planning applications. Do you want to seek a change in your council’s policies, or convert farm buildings to affordable residential homes? If you do, and need advice email Mick or Claire, or telephone 01282 872570. The Government signalled this change in policy in response to a Parliamentary Select Committee. The full response can be read below: “The Department for Communities and Local Government are promoting “Home on the Farm” which encourages farmers and local councils to work together to secure the conversion of redundant … Continue reading

The Government has recently written to all Council Chief Planning Officers urging them to support economic growth. One aspect of this letter asks Councils to reconsider Section 106 agreements: To further ensure that development can go ahead, all local authorities should reconsider, at developers’ request, existing section 106 agreements that currently render schemes unviable, and where possible modify those obligations to allow development to proceed; provided this continues to ensure that the development remains acceptable in planning terms. Section 106s will only be reconsidered at a developers request. If you are a developer and have a development that is stalled, and believe relaxing a current section 106 agreement may unlock that development, email Claire, or call her on 01282 872573. … Continue reading