The government has announced further reforms to the planning system in England in order to cut costs and red tape for businesses.
The revised regulations which come into force on 6 April 2010 will allow industrial premises, offices, shops and schools to undertake minor developments without the need for planning permission. It is estimated that these changes will remove an estimated 10,000 full planning applications from the planning system.
Shops will now be able to extend their floor space by up to a maximum of 50 square metres without the need to apply for planning permission, and schools, hospitals and universities will be able to more easily build new facilities. These new rights will be subject to certain constraints which are designed to minimise impacts on neighbouring properties and the wider environment.
Future changes to legislation are also proposed which will involve a simplified planning process for replacement shop fronts and the installation of cash points.
The changes to permitted development are set out in The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (England) Order 2010.
The amended legislation also includes changes to the permitted development rights relating to houses in multiple occupation and amended procedures for the making of local directions restricting permitted development.
The government has also put new arrangements in place in relation to the publicity of planning applications the information requirements for planning applications, design and access statements, the time limits for lodging certain planning appeals and non material changes to planning permissions.
