More developments than before will be able to go-ahead without going through parts of the planning process a second time reports commercial property agent Prop-Search. This follows planning law changes due to come into force shortly.
The Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2010 (DMPO) has been amended to extend the time developments can take advantage of exemptions in the DMPO. Developments that have received planning permission that are still within their time limit but where work has not yet begun will not have to re-submit design and access statements, conduct full consultations, or provide full plans and drawings when applying for a replacement planning permission.
The amended Order applies the exemptions to those seeking a new planning permission to replace an existing planning permission where the original was granted on or before 1 October 2010. It applies only to developments where building has not begun and the time limit for that work to begin has not passed. The Order previously only applied the exemptions to permissions granted before October 2009.
Ian Harman, a Director at Prop-Search, said: “The amended Order also changes the rules governing decision notices given by local authorities to applicants for planning permission. In their decision notices, local authorities must include a statement explaining how they have worked with the applicant in a positive and proactive manner, based on seeking solutions to problems arising in relation to dealing with a planning application.”
The amendments to the Order came into force on 1 October 2012, with the provisions on decision notices coming into force on 1 December 2012.
