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:
The Government Continues the Theme of Intervention in the Planning Process
One of the key themes to emerge since the General Election is the willingness of the Labour Government to intervene in the planning process. We have…...
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…...
A Warm Welcome to Union4's Newest Team Member
We are delighted to announce the addition of a new member to the Union4 Planning team! Please join us in welcoming Luke Farmer. Luke joins us as an…...
Public consultation on revised NPPF 30 July 2024 – 24th September 2024
The Government had committed to publishing a revised NPPF by the end of July, and today they have done so. Some of the highlights and key changes…...
New Government Signals Intent for Clean Energy Sector
It is now over two weeks since the General Election and it is clear that the new Labour Government has signalled its intent to deliver a series of…...
The King's Speech 2024
A new government, new energy (literally) and an extensive list of proposals featured in the Kings Speech this week. Notwithstanding that the ‘devil…...
A Green Light for Data Centres?
The first few weeks of the new Government has provided some positive headlines for the data centre sector. The recovery1 of two major data centre…...
Union4's Planning Bites
With all the noise about the General Election, it would have been easy to miss recent planning announcements....so what else has happened over the…...
The Expansion of Agricultural PD Rights
The Government have expanded the permitted development (PD) rights, known as Classes Q and R, relating to the conversion of some agricultural…...
Less than two weeks left to comment on Central Government’s proposed ‘Accelerated Planning Service’ and other key changes
You may recall towards the end of 2023 that the new Levelling Up and Regeneration Act received Royal Assent, bringing in various planning reforms…...
GLA Publishes Guidance on Large-Scale Purpose-Built Shared Living
The Greater London Authority (GLA) has published its new planning guidance document on co-living accommodation, which it is entitled London Plan…...
New Planning Controls on Holiday Lets
Announced today in the Spring Budget, the Government will remove the furnished holiday lettings regime and the multiple dwellings relief from…...
Easing the Nutrient Neutrality Log Jam?
With an estimated 150,000 homes caught up in the planning system as a result of their inability to demonstrate ‘Nutrient Neutrality’, a recent DEFRA…...
Union4 are Recruiting
Union4 are excited to be recruiting a Planner or Senior Planner to join our Central London or Guildford team. This is a great opportunity for an…...
Updated National Planning Policy December 2023- All Change or Business as Usual?
Just as you thought you were safe for the holidays, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP announced a new NPPF to fill your Christmas stocking. Time will tell…...
A Stunning New Community for Exeter
On behalf of Welbeck CP and Coplan Estates, we are over the moon to have secured a resolution to grant planning consent for 423 homes, together with…...
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty Renamed
AONBs have recently been renamed to National Landscapes. This change comes into effect to increase awareness of the national significance these…...
National Planning Application Fee Increases
The Government has announced that new Planning Application Fees will come into force on the 6th December 2023. This includes removal of the ‘free-go’…...
Biodiversity Net Gain Update
It’s been a busy month for biodiversity net gain (BNG), the introduction of which has been delayed to January 2024 for major development schemes.…...
Unanimous Consent for Film Studio
We are delighted to have unanimously secured planning consent from Wokingham BC Planning Committee, on behalf of Frasers Property UK, for 2 new sound…...
A Warm Welcome to Union4's Newest Team Members
We are delighted to announce the addition of four new members to the Union4 team who will be based in our new Guildford office. Please welcome Andy…...
Changes proposed to streamline and shorten the plan-making process
26 July 2023 The Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities commenced a new consultation yesterday (25 July 2023) for proposals to…...
Celebrating Union4's 5th Anniversary
We are celebrating 5 years in business this month! During this time we have worked on a wide range of projects all over the UK, from co-ordinating…...
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…...
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…...
South Staffordshire College Application Is Approved
We are pleased to announce that Union4 have secured planning permission for a new campus for South Staffordshire College which was approved at…...
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,…...
Onwards and Upwards!
It’s an exciting week for Union4 as we move into our brand new office and launch our new and improved website!You’ll find us at 1-2 Paris Garden, not…...
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…...
Meeting Housing Demand
The House of Lords Built Environment Committee recently published a report entitled ‘Meeting Housing Demand’, which focuses on the challenges facing…...
Welcome to Union4's Newest Team Member
We are excited to introduce Carol Bowditch as the newest member of the Union4 team! Carol hails from Sydney as a former music promoter who is…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
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…...
Tanya Kozak Attains Chartered Membership of the RTPI
Union4 are proud to congratulate Tanya on being elected as a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute this week after successfully…...
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,…...
Union4 at MIPIM 2020
Jon Rowlatt and Alan Hannify will be attending MIPIM this year in Cannes from 9-12 March 2020. MIPIM is the world's leading real estate event which…...
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…...
Planning Consent in Sidcup
Union4 are delighted to announce that they have secured a resolution to grant planning consent for the redevelopment of 124 Station Road, Sidcup, on…...
WE'RE IN!
We are delighted to announce that we are now up and running in our new South Bank base at 30 Stamford Street, where we look forward to welcoming…...