Peacock + Smith

Leeds City Council are considering recent planning reforms at their Development Plan Panel next week.   The accompanying paper confirms that the housing requirement for Leeds in the latest version of the NPPF is 3,811 homes per year, an uplift from the Core Strategy requirement of 3,247 homes per year. Using the new figure, the Council considers it can demonstrate a 6.6-year supply of housing land.   The paper goes on to consider changes to Green Belt policy, including the introduction of ‘grey belt’. It notes that the Government intends to release further guidance on undertaking Green Belt assessments and identifying grey belt. The Council has made a bid for additional funding to develop its evidence base on this issue.   It highlights that the NPPF does not only stress the need for more homes, it also sets a framework for economic growth. The Council notes the drive for economic growth can only partially be supported by its current planning policies as there is a limited supply of employment land – partly due to continued safeguarding of employment land for rail projects and partly because the Local Plan is in the final stages of its plan period. This can be remedied through the allocation of additional land in updates to the Local Plan.   No further consultation dates have yet been set in relation to the Council’s Local Plan preparation but P+S are monitoring for updates. #leeds #planningpolicy #development

We are pleased to welcome Ben Brown to the Peacock + Smith Leeds team!   Ben joins us as a Senior Planner, having gained several years’ experience working in the Leeds office of Barton Willmore/Stantec.   Ben has experience in taking a variety of proposals through pre-application, public consultation, and submission stages and is already proving to be a great addition to the team, providing essential input across multiple projects.

The Government have published a new Draft Fees Order, which once ratified will see Planning application fees rise on 1 April 2025. The headline changes are as follows: ▪ The fee for 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 is more than doubling to £528 (currently £258) ▪ 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 73 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 currently face a flat fee of £293, however a tier structure is being introduced: ▫ £2,000 to vary the permission of a major development ▫ £586 to vary the permission of a non-major development ▫ £86 for householder applications ▪ Applications to 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 are also seeing their fee more than doubling, increasing from £145 to £298 Where possible, we would recommend submitting any applications ahead of 1 April to avoid the increase in fees. #planning #development

P+S are pleased to have submitted a planning application on behalf of R S 786 for 41 apartments and 9 terraced houses on a brownfield site off Wall Way, Gorton, Greater Manchester. The site was previously occupied by the former Bandstand pub which was destroyed by a fire in 2018.   Of the 50 homes proposed, there are 13 one-bedroom apartments, 28 two-bedroom apartments, eight three-bedroom terraces, and one five-bedroom end-of-terrace house.   Working with the scheme’s architect, Atelier MB, a scheme has been designed which respects Gorton’s industrial heritage and concurrently delivers modern waterside homes which overlook Lower Gorton Reservoir.   We look forward to working with Manchester City Council to secure much needed housing on this long-standing brownfield site.   The project team also includes Axis (Highways), The LK Group (Ground), Parker Wilson Consulting (Energy), Murray Tree Consultancy (Trees), and Tyrer Ecological Consultants (Ecology).   Please contact Steve Buckley in the P+S Manchester office for more information. #planning #planningapplication #submission #development #housing

Peacock + Smith is delighted to have assisted Brian Reynolds at NorthCountry Homes secure full planning permission for the development of 83 no. dwellings on a brownfield site at Pinfold Lane, Bridlington. The architect for the scheme is Niemen Architects. #planningpermission #eastriding #residentialdevelopment #brownfieldland

The final Newsletter of the year from the government’s Chief Planner has been published.   The main points highlighted include:   • MHCLG has published a working paper setting out a proposed new approach to development and nature recovery, arising from Habitat Regulations. It proposes that developers pay into a ‘Nature Restoration Fund’ for improvements to nature as a quicker and simpler way of meeting environmental obligations. LPAs are invited to review and comment on the proposals. • As part of the publication of the updated National Planning Policy Framework, the Government has announced that grant funding will be provided to support local authorities to implement the required policy changes. £15m has been set aside to support local authorities with local plan delivery and Green Belt reviews. • In January 2025, MHCLG will publish the findings of its first annual survey of local authority planning departments. The report will provide evidence of challenges across a range of areas, including recruitment, retention and skills. #planning #development

At Peacock + Smith we have been busy working on Christmas deadlines this week, but inbetween we have found time to prepare this note on the Revised NPPF. We look forward to working with clients in 2025 to cease on the considerable opportunities that have been created by these latest changes to National policy. Happy Christmas from all at P+S! https://lnkd.in/d6XzEX6

The government has announced ‘a major overhaul of planning committees’ to speed up the planning process as part of the their 'Plan for Change'. It is suggested planning applications that comply with local development plans could bypass planning committees in order to tackle uncertainty, reduce delays and better manage officer time and resources. The measures would see a national scheme of delegation introduced, the creation of streamlined committees for strategic development and mandatory training for planning committee members. It is said the changes will provide greater certainty to developers that schemes aligned with already-agreed local development plans will be approved in a timely manner. The government will publish a formal public consultation on the above proposals next year, to coincide with the introduction of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. Alongside the proposed committee reforms, it is expected that the government will soon confirm changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), following the consultation launched in July. #planning #development

Peacock + Smith Leeds office had a great evening yesterday at the Hägen Wolf pub quiz held at The Tetley in support of the Yorkshire Children's Charity. Thanks to Hagen Wolf for organising this really enjoyable event, for a great cause and we look forward to returning next year.

Peacock + Smith is looking for a planner with 2 to 5 years post-qualification experience to join its Leeds team, to work on a wide variety of projects in the commercial and residential sectors. Experience can be either in the public or private sectors. The role is based in attractive offices in central Leeds. We offer a supportive working environment and a good remuneration package. Please send your CV before 6th December 2024 to chris.creighton@peacockandsmith.co.uk or call the office on 0113 243 1919 for an informal discussion.