"This is an absolutely momentous decision," said APRS director Dr Kat Jones, adding that the debate exposed a broader industry problem since both planning officials and councillors repeatedly questioned what qualifies as a "green datacenter."
Some even rented out the new additions as Airbnbs with applications for retention permission flooding in More than 11,000 applications for retention permission have been submitted in the last two years after thousands of people built extensions, garages, log cabins, apartments and gyms without planning permission. An investigation by the Irish Independent into the culture of "build first, ask for permission later" has revealed how more than half of all retention applications lodged since January 2024 have been approved by local authorities across the country.
In the UK and the US, it is often crystal clear when your new home is classified as a heritage home or period property, but in France it can be less obvious. You could be breaking the rules simply by installing new windows. So how can you check that your big plans aren't going to upset anyone - or worse, break the law?
The site in question is the subject of a legal challenge raised by tech justice non-profit Foxglove in collaboration with environmental charity Global Action Plan, who claimed the government was wrong to grant planning permission for the project without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) first. The project, known as the West London Technology Park (WLTP) development, is being overseen by developer Greystoke, which wants to transform the former landfill site (located within an area of green belt land) into a hyperscale datacentre.
The British government has conceded it should not have approved a campus near London's M25 orbital motorway and that the decision should be quashed, following a legal challenge by campaign group Foxglove. The non-profit filed its challenge last year after the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government overturned Buckinghamshire Council's rejection of the Woodlands Park site near Iver. The local authority had blocked the project on grounds it would significantly alter the area's character and appearance.
The plan, put forward by TfL's property arm, Places for London and Barratt Homes, would have seen approximately 300 new homes, including 40% affordable homes, built on the car park and on the light industrial land to the south of the station. The development had been recommended in the planning officer's report, but the councillors voted to reject it. The main reasons were strong local opposition to building over the car park and concerns about the buildings' height.
There has been a lot of hard work going on in the background and we have spent months really refining our design and working on the masterplan and the building, engaging with all our stakeholders and getting ourselves prepared for the planning application," Fitzpatrick said. "We hope to submit next month, so now we've completed the pre-application notification stage and gone through a bit of statutory consultation. In summary, we're about to submit planning next month.
A campaign group has been given the green light to take its legal battle over plans to almost triple the size of the Wimbledon tennis site to the Court of Appeal. On Wednesday, SWP said the Court of Appeal had granted it permission to appeal. In a court order dated November 13, Lord Justice Holgate said: "The grounds of appeal are arguable with a real prospect of success. "The case law on scheme benefits, deliverability, relevance, material considerations and irrationality merits review by the Court of Appeal."
A Meath couple who built a house without planning permission have failed in their latest bid to prevent the demolition of the property after the Supreme Court rejected an application for a further appeal.
Lawyers for the local district council had sought a permanent injunction against the current use of the Bell hotel in Epping, arguing at the high court that it was a feeding ground for unrest and protest. The application was opposed by the property's owner, Somani Hotels, while the Home Office also intervened in the case, arguing that the closure of asylum hotels must be structured and gradual.
(Image credit: Monmouthshire County Council) A Monmouth couple has been told to install a privacy fence after neighbours complained their "luxury shed" was too large and intrusive. Llinos Ndlovu and her husband built the glass-fronted garden room and decking at the end of their home without planning permission in 2023. Monmouthshire County Council has now approved the structure retrospectively, but only after imposing strict conditions on privacy, lighting and wildlife protection.
Plans to run a 425m zipline from the ArcellorMittal Orbit tower in the Olympic Park are set to be considered by councillors next week. ZipWorld, which operates the 114.5m high tower, wants planning permission for the wire from both Tower Hamlets and Newham councils. Plans say the zipline would offer a unique and exhilarating experience for a predicted 60,000 extra visitors a year.
Omaze has confirmed it will cover any costs associated with regularising the property and continues to work with the council. A company spokesperson told Homebuilding & Renovating: "Omaze has taken every possible step to bring the issue to a swift resolution, including submitting a retrospective planning application to address the recommendations made by North Norfolk District Council. "We guarantee no house winner would ever have to incur any costs to remedy historical planning issues, and all house prizes are transferred with good and marketable title."
Plans to turn a former nightclub and restaurant in the London Trocadero into a two-storey casino have been given the green light by planning officers. The casino will cater for up to 1,250 customers and include a restaurant on the ground floor of the building on Coventry Street in the West End. The proposal, submitted by national casino operator Genting Casinos UK Ltd, was granted planning permission at a committee meeting on September 30.
Normally, when a large project receives planning approval, the local council can seek funding from the developer to contribute to local improvements, typically in the form of transport and services. That's in part to ensure that more people moving into an area don't overwhelm local doctors, schools and transport. The London Eye was somewhat unique in that it was an unproven, and at the time, temporary entertainment venue whose success or failure was uncertain.
While not as common as roof mounted panels, solar PV generation is all about sunshine, so if it's not possible to mount panels on the roof of the home, then it may be best to look at a ground mounted system located away from the home - but in an optimum position. Renewables energy expert, David Hilton is here to explain everything you need to know about ground mounted solar panels, ranging from the reasons why you might need to consider them, through to how they work and their pros and cons.
The statue is prominently visible from the street, where it has drawn attention from local residents. Teale emphasised that Caesar is purely decorative, securely mounted, and adds personal enjoyment to her home. "The sculpture...is firmly and safely secured to the wall and has been a much-loved decorative feature," she said, noting that it had previously been displayed at her former property for several years without incident or complaint.
The Troubadour theatre will be built on a plot of land that was, until just recently, the worksite offices for the Silvertown Tunnel next to the Cable Car. The theatre company says it has permission to operate the site for ten years. It's likely that it would then be developed for housing as most of the rest of North Greenwich has been and is being.
Ministers have delayed a decision on whether to grant planning permission to a proposed Chinese super-embassy in London amid concerns about redacted drawings in the building's plans. The deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, was due to make a decision on 9 September but has pushed this back to 21 October, saying more time is needed to consider the plans for the development, which would occupy a sprawling 20,000 sq metres (5 acres) at Royal Mint Court in east London.
When you're hunting for a building plot, it's easy to think you'll stumble across a neat patch of grass with planning permission already sorted and services waiting at the boundary. In reality, that almost never happens and more often than not, the best opportunities are hidden in plain sight - old garages, barns, or even, in building expert Mark Stevenson's case, a disused post office.
A planning inspector stated that Rose and Chris Murray should not be denied retention for their house built without permission solely due to density concerns, noting that similar developments have received permission in the area.
Steve Dally faced a £70,000 charge after Waverley Borough Council misclassified a minor amendment to his planning permission as a new build, causing significant distress. 'I was blindsided,' he stated.
We are disappointed by the recent decision to refuse planning permission for the proposed extension to our nursery in the Hacton ward. As a long-standing and trusted early years provider in the community, our sole aim is to meet the growing demand for local childcare - a need that has only increased with the completion of the new 300-home development at the St George's Hospital site. We will be lodging a formal appeal against the decision.
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