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News & Research

Union4 provide frequent updates and research on a wide range of town planning and development topics, including relevant legal and market trends and progress in updating local plans, some of which are noted below. If you would like specific research on particular areas or topics please let us know:


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Biodiversity Net Gain – Our Experience So Far

As many of our readers will be aware, Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements came into force this year which has resulted in an extra element to…...

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DEFRA introduces Mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain Contribution

Last week the Government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs ('DEFRA') published guidance documents relating to Biodiversity Net…...

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Proposed Reforms to National Planning Policy

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) published the eagerly anticipated draft updates to the National Planning Policy…...

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England’s Green Belt Grows by 1.5 Percent

For the first time in eight years, England has seen the addition of new Green Belt land, with a net increase of 24,150 hectares of land designated,…...

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Housing Delivery Test Results

The results of the Housing Delivery Test (HDT) 2021 were published on 14th January and as always, make for interesting reading, ranking the best and…...

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Meeting Housing Demand Union4 Planning

Meeting Housing Demand

The House of Lords Built Environment Committee recently published a report entitled ‘Meeting Housing Demand’, which focuses on the challenges facing…...

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Stonhouse

Revised National Planning Policy Framework Published

The Government has published the revised National Planning Policy Framework on 20 July 2021 which replaces the February 2019 version. Whilst the…...

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First Home Policy Union4 Planning

Government’s First Homes Policy Comes Into Effect

The new First Homes Policy took effect on 28 June 2021 and is part of the Government’s drive to increase home ownership and make changes to the…...

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Virtual Planning Union4 Planning

High Court Ruling on Virtual Planning Committees

Following a legal challenge for continuation of virtual meetings, the High Court has ruled that virtual planning committees are to cease next week…...

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New PD Rights Union4 Planning

New PD Rights for Changes of Use From Class E to C3

The Government has introduced a new Class MA within the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development etc.) (England) (Amendment) Order…...

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Planning Consent Union4 Planning

Automatic Extensions to Planning Consents

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have announced that planning and listed building consents, due to expire between…...

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Woking Gateway

Planning for the Future- Government White Paper Open for Consultation

The Government’s new White Paper has been published today (6th August) and is open for a 12 week consultation period. Levelling the failure to meet…...

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Covid19 Union4 Planning

Planning under COVID-19: New Planning Legislation Update

The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and…...

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Mayor of London

Secretary of State’s Letter to the Mayor of London

On Friday 13 March 2020, Robert Jenrick, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, wrote to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan,…...

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EIP for Draft New London

EiP for Draft New London Plan

The Examination in Public (EiP) for the Draft New London Plan opens on Tuesday (15th January). The EiP will be led by a panel of independent…...

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