A significant day for planners in England - NPPF 4 is now published! Having skimmed through it, the main changes seem to focus on design but also appear to prepare the ground for new PD rights (possibly Class MA). Interestingly, paragraph 79/80 does not require an innovative design anymore, while separately, increased weight is given in general to outstanding design.

We are proud to announce that Mark Alexander has been elected as a Chartered Town Planner by the Royal Town and Planning Institute which means that MAPlanning is now a chartered consultancy bound by the RTPI Code of Conduct.

Norwich joins a number of other Councils which are proposing Article 4 directions to remove permitted development rights set out by Class MA of the GPDO. Norwich City Council states that the Article 4 directions 'would apply to the majority of the city centre'. This is in stark contrast to the aims of paragraph 53 of NPPF (2021), which clearly expects that 'in all cases, [Article 4 directions should] be based on robust evidence, and apply to the smallest geographical area possible'.

The Planning Inspectorate allowed an appeal against Cardiff Council's decision to refuse a planning application for a second storey side extension.