Planning Direct

21/04/2026

The Government has recently published a new planning appeals guide, introducing major changes to the way most planning appeals will be handled from 1st April 2026.

The guide establishes a new expedited procedure which will apply to the vast majority of appeals. Under that procedure, appellants will no longer be entitled to submit a statement of case.

The new regime also introduces tighter controls on new material, such as revised drawings or additional technical reports. New evidence and amendments will generally only be accepted in limited and exceptional circumstances, and in all cases this will remain at the Inspector’s discretion.

Read more here:

Planning Direct is a boutique planning consultancy, with clients across the UK. With decades of experience in the corporate world and many years using our skills to tackle various planning issues, we have seen it all.

07/04/2026

https://www.planningdirect.co.uk/news/ai-planning-validation-checks-slowing-councils-down

AI planning validation checks are meant to improve efficiency, but many councils are finding that rigid automated validation is causing delays, extra cost and less common sense. Training is required to help AI bed in.

11/01/2026

We’re backing the bid!

20/03/2025

Following two previous failed attempts by the landowner, Planning Direct's Jamie Cann has recently secured planning permission for a new residential development in the Metropolitan Green Belt.

Did you know that the Labour government's new Green Belt policies have unlocked the development potential of many "previously developed" sites in the Green Belt? This includes sites that have had planning permission refused in the past.

Read our latest news article to find out more:

Planning Direct is a boutique planning consultancy, with clients across the UK. With decades of experience in the corporate world and many years using our skills to tackle various planning issues, we have seen it all.

13/03/2025

Planning application fees are due to increase from 31st March 2025.

Householder planning applications and prior approval applications will face the largest increases. The fees for most prior approval applications are set to increase by 100% and the fee for most types of householder development - including home extensions - will increase by 104%.

The fees for most other planning applications will see only modest increases to account for inflation.

The government has indicated that the increased fees will result in measurable improvements in the performance of Local Planning Authorities and the quality of local planning services.

Read our latest news article to find out more about the new planning fees:

Planning application fees will increase from 31st March 2025. Fees for householder and prior approval applications will increase the most.

23/01/2025

Everybody's talking about housing! 🏘️

As anticipated, Labour's new national planning policy document (NPPF) was published in December 2024 and contains a whole host of housing policy changes. Housing targets have increased across the board and we're expecting to see an influx of planning applications and - more importantly - planning approvals in 2025.

Here's our plain English guide to housing need, supply, delivery and policy under Labour:

Find out more about Labour's changes to national housing policy and how these will affect housing need, supply and delivery in England.

24/10/2024

Planning Direct is delighted to announce it has recently won its fourth planning appeal on East Suffolk's cluster policies. Since the cluster policies were first introduced by East Suffolk in 2019 - 2020, Planning Direct has managed to secure planning permission for 4 separate housing developments in the rural outskirts of Witnesham, Woodbridge, Great Yarmouth and now Aldeburgh - all at appeal!

Our clients in Witnesham, Woodbridge and Aldeburgh had all had similar planning applications - and appeals - rejected in the recent past but the introduction of East Suffolk's rural cluster policies wiped that slate clean and presented them with a new opportunity.

If you own a rural site in East Suffolk, contact us today for a free cluster policy assessment. To find out more about our most recent appeal case in Aldeburgh, read our full news story here:

In 2024, Planning Direct won their fourth appeal on East Suffolk's cluster policy. Find out more about our most recent appeal in Aldeburgh...

17/10/2024

Planning Direct is delighted to announce that the Ardleigh Neighbourhood Plan was adopted on 13th September 2024, following a successful referendum - a comfortable majority of 86.5% voted in favour of our Plan!

Planning Direct's Nikki O'Hagan worked closely alongside the Parish Council and local community to create the Plan. The Neighbourhood Plan is to remain in place until 2033 and will empower the local community to resist unwanted developments, whilst encouraging and enabling developments that would benefit them.

Read our latest news article to find out more:

Planning Direct is a boutique planning consultancy, with clients across the UK. With decades of experience in the corporate world and many years using our skills to tackle various planning issues, we have seen it all.

10/10/2024

You may be aware that the 4 year rule officially came to an end in England on 25th April 2024 but did you know that you can still rely on the 4 year rule in certain circumstances?

Read our latest news article to find out more...

Planning Direct is a boutique planning consultancy, with clients across the UK. With decades of experience in the corporate world and many years using our skills to tackle various planning issues, we have seen it all.

07/10/2024

Are you aware of the recent update to AONB (National Landscape) legislation? Read our latest news article for a plain English summary of the changes and their implications for developers and homeowners.

Find out more about the recent changes to AONB (National Landscape) legislation and what they will mean for developers and homeowners.