The government has opened a consultation on extending judicial review reforms beyond nationally significant infrastructure projects to major housing, transport and energy schemes. The aim is to reduce delays caused by repeated or weak legal challenges while preserving access to justice and the rule of law.
Ribble Valley Council’s planning committee has been warned that repeated appeal losses could trigger government intervention and potentially remove some local planning autonomy. The warning comes as members prepare to determine two housing applications totalling 165 homes, including one recommended for refusal despite the council’s recent appeal setbacks.
The government has launched a six-week consultation on extending judicial review reforms to housing and transport projects. The aim is to reduce legal challenges, particularly for smaller schemes, and to speed up delivery.
The government has launched a consultation on extending judicial review reforms to major housing and infrastructure projects, with the stated aim of reducing delays to development. The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government say the proposals could help unblock projects that are currently slowed by legal challenge processes.
The Mayor of London has proposed reducing the affordable housing threshold for some developments that want to use a faster planning route. The draft plan still retains the broader objective that 50% of new homes in London should be affordable, but individual schemes may be able to secure fast-track approval under a lower requirement.
This article is a satirical roundup of several North West property and local government stories, including a rejected housing scheme in Sandbach, a commercial launch at a Manchester resi scheme, and ongoing political deadlock at Oldham Council. It also briefly notes a new wellbeing-focused gym opening at Manchester’s Treehouse hotel.
The Planning Inspectorate has published a procedural guide for planning appeals relating to applications submitted on or after 1 April 2026. The guidance explains the updated written representations process, the relationship to the Town and Country Planning (Appeals) (Written Representations Procedure) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2026, and key expectations for appellants and local planning authorities.
The Planning Inspectorate has updated its procedural guide for planning appeals relating to applications submitted on or before 31 March 2026. The revisions cover online submission limits for discontinuance notice appeals, updated appeal process guidance, changes linked to enforcement and late representations, and references to newer procedural materials and service channels.
Westmorland Farmshop & Co has secured funding from HSBC UK to support the £65m Tatton Services scheme on the M56 in Cheshire. The development, which includes a large amenity building, hotel and fuel station, was approved after a planning inquiry that considered Green Belt and grey belt issues.
A planned £2bn data centre in Loughton, Essex, is likely to be delayed because grid power will not be available in time for the developer’s intended opening date. The article also highlights wider UK data centre delays caused by electricity connection constraints and notes an Ofgem-backed initiative to standardise connection designs.
The article examines how Andy Burnham’s housing approach, shaped by his record in Greater Manchester, may not translate well nationally. It argues that while planning reform, council housebuilding and devolved delivery could support supply, SME housebuilders are already under pressure from weak market conditions, viability constraints and planning delays.
A cross-party select committee has urged the government to reduce regulatory barriers affecting heritage buildings and introduce a heritage-to-housing scheme. The committee argues that the current approach is overly complacent and that reform could help unlock a significant number of homes.
