use class order

Flexibility and diversity are the key to vibrant, resilient town centres

24.08.2020

Heather Lindley-Clapp

change of use | Economic Growth | England | high streets | Planning Law | Policy & Politics | town centres | use class order

Changes to the Use Class Order could liberate England's high streets and give them greater vibrancy and resilience to shocks, says Heather Lindley-Clapp – but it's up to local authorities to rise to the...
Appeal: Luxury 'extra care' scheme approved despite mayor's ruling

21.08.2020

Matt Moody

affordable housing | Demographics & Population Growth | extra care | Finance & Viability | London | Regeneration | Regeneration | use class order | viability assessment

Plans to regenerate a former college in Kensington to provide 142 'extra care' units worth up to £6m each can go ahead, after an inspector rejected the GLA's 2019 ruling that the units were not exempt from...
Planning classification required for retirement communities

13.07.2020

Laura Edgar

ARCO | County Councils Network | England | Health | Housing | housing for older people | retirement developments | use class order

A report has suggested that the introduction of a planning classification for retirement communities could incentivise the development of them and make it easier for councils to include them in local plans.
Appeal: Independent living would not be the 'reality' of extra care facility

06.04.2018

Matt Moody

Demographics & Population Growth | extra care housing | neighbourhood plan | Plan Making - Local & Neighbourhood | South East | use class order

An inspector has approved plans for 72 extra care units on the edge of Buckingham, ruling that the scheme would be policy-compliant because the units would not offer truly independent living despite being...
Appeal: Vacant unit preferred to takeaway in Luton

04.04.2018

Matt Moody

Business & Enterprise | Finance & Viability | parking | South East | Takeaway | use class order | vitality and viability

An inspector has refused permission to convert a vacant former grocery and butcher’s shop in Luton into a restaurant and takeaway because it would harm the vitality of the rest of the shopping parade...
Appeal: Trampoline park allowed on safeguarded industrial estate

16.02.2018

Matt Moody

Business & Enterprise | industrial land | leisure | Leisure & Tourism | North West | use class order

Plans for a trampoline park in an industrial building reserved for employment use in the area’s core strategy can go ahead, after an inspector found no reasonable prospect of an employment use coming...
Appeal: Sui generis ruling means council offices can become housing under GPDO

01.02.2018

Matt Moody

court of appeal | Housing | London | permitted development | Policy & Politics | South West | use class order

In granting prior approval for the conversion of council offices in Weymouth to 56 flats, an inspector rejected comparisons to London County Hall, which was classed as unique by the Court of Appeal in 1989...
Appeal: Extra care housing provides only ‘illusion’ of independent living

15.06.2017

AONB | Demographics & Population Growth | elderly | Housing | Planning Law | South East | use class order

An inspector has ruled that a proposed assisted living scheme in Cranbrook, Kent, would offer only ‘the illusion of independent living’, and should therefore fall under Class C2 (residential...
Taking a gamble on planning?

23.06.2014

Craig McLaren

Betting shops | change of use | Development Management & Enforcement | Scotland | use class order

The UK Government recently announced that it would be changing the use class order in England so that new bookmaker shops will have to submit a planning application. It is expected that this will lead to...