In yesterday’s Budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will be published next Tuesday. The NPPF will come into effect immediately, with no transitional arrangements.

Applicants will need specialist advice to navigate the policy gap left by the removal of detailed national guidance in the Planning Policy Statements and the absence of comprehensive local planning policies in many Local Authorities.

Green Planning Solutions has the expertise to provide assistance with planning applications and appeals during the transitional period, to take full advantage of the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The changes being brought in with the NPPF represent the biggest shake up of the planning system since 1947. The Government is reforming the planning system so that it supports growth, grounded on a ‘powerful’ presumption in favour of sustainable development.

The Chancellor said: “We’re replacing 1000 pages of guidance with just 50 pages. We’re introducing a presumption in favour of sustainable development; while protecting our most precious environments.”

The Budget 2012 Red Book confirms the change of emphasis:

The NPPF will refocus planning policy to better support growth, will include a powerful presumption in favour of sustainable development to underpin all local plans and decisions, and will localise choice about the use of previously developed land, ending nationally imposed targets.

The full 2012 Budget Redbook is embedded below:

The sections relating to the imminent enactment of the NPPF are on Page 44 and Page 81.

Green Planning Solutions LLP has continued to show strong growth. So far 2012 is proving no exception. We continue to buck the general pessimistic outlook in the economy that many businesses have seen in recent times.

In the run up to Christmas and New Year period, to cope with the increasing demand, Green Planning Solutions:

• Recruited several new staff members
• Trebled our broadband capacity
• Added a Satellite Broadband System as a backup
• Upgraded our network infrastructure to improve capacity and performance
• Our Surveyors trialled the latest surveying technology by surveying 135 acres in 1 hour (more details to follow.)

Matthew has taken part in BBC Radio 5 Live’s ‘Double Take’ program this morning. The program followed up on recent events at Dale Farm, as well as, taking a fresh look at the lives of Travellers in Britain.

Audio: Lives of Travellers in Britain – BBC Radio 5 live
http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/b015084n/

Matthew Green, partner at Green Planning Solutions LLP, has appeared on Sky News: Live at 5 today. Following yesterday’s last minute injunction to prevent travellers being evicted from Dale Farm by Basildon council, a growing row has started to emerge over the actions of the Council. Actions estimated to have costg £18m so far.

Matthew was commenting, as a planning expert, on the millions which could have been saved if Basildon Council had followed a different strategy.

“The council have made a mistake in taking direct action because it’s a more costly, more risky route and it will take more time,” he said.

“If they had gone down the route of seeking an injunction, the people would have been off the site four or five years ago and it would have been at a fraction of the cost and risk to public life.”

Yesterday evening Matthew was also interviewed on the Dispatches programme on Channel 4.

Sky News article and video: Has The Council Botched Dale Farm Eviction?

UPDATE: The Dispatches video is now available on 4oD – Matthew appears towards the end.

Dispatches: Gypsy Eviction: The Fight for Dale Farm

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