Insights & Reports

Following the High Court's ruling of a legal challenge against the changes to the Use Class Order and General Permitted Development Order, Jonathan Phillips gives his view on the impact of the regulation changes on one of the hardest hit industries during the pandemic and how these are already demonstrating a change in the high street landscape.

The High Court has handed its ruling in the recent legal challenge against the changes to the Use Class Order and General Permitted Development Order. We explain the key reasons for the ruling and what it means for the Government's regulation changes.

As an environmental scientist, a forester and parent, I applaud this week’s announcement by the Prime Minister for a renewed tree planting commitment of 30,000 hectares of trees every year in his 10 point plan for a green industrial revolution.

We discuss how the radical new use class planning reforms are changing the landscape of our high streets, using a recent client success example.

As the tech sector and associated businesses rise to the pressures and opportunity presented by the new reality of Covid-19, there was, inevitably, going to be a real world impact of the virtual change. This has been exemplified in the Milton Keynes office market. Read our blog to find out more.

The current local government structure in Hertfordshire comprising the county council and 10 district and borough councils, which has been in place since local government reorganisation in 1974, is set for change.

According to a recent Boston Consulting Group report, the total value of the world’s forests is estimated to be $150tn - double the value of the global stock markets – with tree’s carbon storage ability amounting to 90% of this value.

Our latest Oxford to Cambridge Arc webinar took place this week with guests debating the future of the initiative with planning partner and Arc lead, Rob Hopwood.

Reform was promised and change is very much the order of the day for this Government with the latest changes to use classes and permitted development rights. Mike Jones highlights the fundamental changes to use classes which come in to force on 1 September 2020.

As the pandemic continues to affect our everyday lives, planning legislation has had to adapt quickly to ensure the built environment is fit for purpose. Corinne MacDougall outlines the latest updates, north of the border.

On Tuesday, the Government announced new legislation in a bid to boost the delivery of housing and revitalise town centres. We explain the key changes to the General Permitted Development Order in our latest blog.

Among all the recent tragedy, gloom and despondency, there are still stories which give us all a welcome uplift and hope for the future. Nicola Beaumont explains why solar farms should be part of the solution in Scotland's commitment to carbon net zero by 2045.