In these monthly updates, Rebecca Mushing brings together essential news, trends, and insights from the world of planning and development.
Planning made national headlines this month when Epping Forest District Council used it as a tool to try and block a hotel from being used to accommodate asylum seekers.
But what else happened this month while the government was on its summer recess? Take a look at this months roundup to find out.
August 2025 planning and development roundup:
- The government is pressing ahead with efforts to revitalise the high street through the new National Licensing Policy Framework, aimed at cutting red tape. Key reforms include:
- Streamlining the planning process for converting disused shops into hospitality venues.
- Protecting long-established pubs, clubs, and music venues from noise complaints linked to new developments.
- Introducing designated hospitality zones, where applications for alfresco dining, street parties, and extended opening hours can be fast-tracked. - The government’s push through the new National Licensing Policy Framework comes amid reports that applications to convert high street commercial properties to residential under permitted development rights rose by 33% in the last financial year.
- In its latest annual business plan, the Planning Inspectorate announced plans to increase its workforce by 25% in 2025/26 to manage the growing workload driven by recent and forthcoming government planning reforms. The expansion aims to improve decision-making capacity and reduce delays as the system adjusts to increased demand and legislative changes.
- In a recent appeal decision, a Planning Inspector awarded partial costs against a County Council for unreasonably refusing to include a clause in a planning agreement that would exclude individual liability for financial contributions. This is a common negotiation point I regularly encounter with councils. The Inspector’s decision highlights the importance of adopting a reasonable approach to legal drafting in planning obligations.
- An application for a new Chinese Embassy in London created some interesting discussion around why their plans had been redacted. Angela Rayner called in the application last year and is asking the applicant to explain why the redactions have been made given they may be material to the decision. The question was raised as to whether a lawful decision can be made on the basis of redacted plans. It would appear common sense that a decision cannot be made if it is not clear what the development permitted is. We await Ms Rayner’s decision.
- CIL warning – the Community Infrastructure Regulations are notoriously difficult to navigate, and many have fallen foul of technicalities. In a recent appeal, the appellant stated they hadn’t paid the CIL when due as they were in discussions disputing the CIL with the Council. The Inspector made it clear that discussions and disputes with the Council did not stop the clock running on the payment time period unless specifically agreed with the Council. In this case there was no evidence of such agreement and as such not only was the CIL due but so was the surcharge for late payment. A costly mistake.
- A new digital connectivity tool has been launched by the Department for Transport in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, aimed at supporting more sustainable development planning. The tool is designed to help identify optimal locations for new development by assessing existing and potential future transport links. It allows users to model new transport routes such as roads, railways, or cycle networks and evaluate how these would impact an area’s overall connectivity. The goal is to better align land use and infrastructure planning, ensuring that new development is well-served by sustainable transport options. Access to the tool is free of charge but currently restricted to professionals working within local or central government.
- Epping Forest District Council made headlines this month when it sought an injunction to prevent the Bell Hotel from being used to house migrants, raising concerns that this material change of use had not undergone the required public scrutiny through the planning process. Although the Council initially secured an interim injunction and other local authorities prepared to follow suit, the injunction was subsequently appealed and overturned. The situation remains ongoing, with Epping Forest District Council now instructing its legal team to pursue an application to the Supreme Court. This case will be one to watch closely.
- The New Homes Accelerator Group continues to make progress in unlocking development sites, recently adding six new locations to the scheme. According to the latest government statement, these additions aim to overcome barriers to building, supporting the delivery of nearly 100,000 new homes nationwide. The six new sites alone are expected to deliver around 12,000 homes. Angela Rayner noted “We’ve rolled up our sleeves and are breaking down the barriers which stop us from building houses, helping to speed up the delivery of tens of thousands of new homes already.” The scheme provides targeted support, including additional planning capacity and the removal of regulatory hurdles, to accelerate housebuilding.
If you have any question's about this month's roundup, our Planning team will be delighted to help - please don't hesitate to get in touch.
