Author Archives: KirkwellsAdmin

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

On Friday 8th of April DCLG published a 12 week consultation on proposed changes to the Use Classes Order. The main proposal is to allow changes of use from B1 business use to C3 residential dwelling house use without the need for a planning application. Government are also seeking views if the changes should go further and allow change from B2 general industrial and B8 warehousing to C3. The consultation includes further questions on when these change of use should be acceptable and any necessary mitigation measures. If you would like to find out more, or discuss how this may affect you contact the Kirkwells team on 01282 872570, or Michael Wellock via email michaelwellock@kirkwells.co.uk.