By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property Chelgate Local is working with partners to help create a developers group for Hertfordshire. Discussions are ongoing with the Hertfordshire Growth Board and founding members about creating the group, its structure, governance and programme. Developers groups have emerged in a number of counties recently to provide useful …

By Ruby Burdett, Consultant  In his budget in spring last year, the chancellor, Rishi Sunak announced the Government’s growth plans for the area connecting Oxford and Cambridge. Almost a year later, after near radio silence on the matter, the Government has revisited the subject and has announced their ambitious plans.  MHCLG’s recently issued spatial framework could potentially see out the …

By Kasia Banaś, Account Director   Sevenoaks Council is not giving up on its  Local Plan. Following a firm rejection of a judicial review of the Planning Inspectorate’s decision on the local plan by the High Court, the authority has now lodged an application to appeal against the ruling.  The Planning Inspector, Karen Baker, published her damning final examination report back …

Ashford –The Ashford Local Plan 2030 was adopted in February 2019.  Aylesbury Vale – The latest stage is the consultation on the Further Main Modifications, which is open from 15 December 2020 until 9 February 2021. These are a second stage of Main Modifications and are different to the ones consulted on in late …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property The past year has been one many will understandably want to forget, but it will be remembered for a long time. Chelgate sent its staff to work from home on 10th March which, at the time, seemed a little drastic. The firm worked throughout the lock down although much of the industry did not.   Not content with just …

By Ruby Burdett, Consultant  St Albans Council has withdrawn its Local Plan for a second time. Unlike previously (2017), it decided not to judicially review the inspectors’ findings, and did not wait for the outcome of the Sevenoaks High Court challenge. The council still has the second-oldest Local Plan in the country (1994) and it now needs to start again – it will need to motor if it is to meet …

By Michael Hardware, Director of Planning and Property Essex County Council (ECC) ran its first developer engagement event in November. This initiative has been instigated by Michael Hardware, in his role as ECC deputy cabinet member for economic development.  The concept is based on Chelgate Local’s successful live planning events which we ran during lockdown. The aim is to provide developers and their consultants with access to the senior …

Ashford –The Ashford Local Plan 2030 was adopted in February 2019. Aylesbury Vale – The council is producing responses to the issues raised in the main modifications consultation which took place late last year. The second batch of information was sent to the inspector at the beginning of October. The …