Local Plan Watch
Our Planning team constantly monitors the activities of local planning authorities to identify opportunities for clients.
Bidwells' latest webinar provided an update on the progress of local plans coming forward across the Oxford-Cambridge Arc and London
Plus strategic planning opportunities arising from the Planning White Paper.
Our Local Plan Watch insights
Cambridgeshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
There are efforts to make Cambridgeshire and Peterborough more connected and to spread the economic success of Cambridge across the county. As a growth area, it continues to receive central government commitment for significant infrastructure improvements. With investment, there is an expectation for growth and for Local Plans to spearhead it. The ongoing Local Plan process will start to show if individual authorities share overarching economic aspirations.
Bedfordshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
The publication of the Oxford to Cambridge Arc Strategic Framework in February 2021 notes Bedfordshire to be an area of opportunity and identified growth. Alongside the implementation of the East West Rail scheme, opportunities are arising for employment, housing and infrastructure within the borough.
Buckinghamshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
Buckinghamshire continues to be a mixed bag with a delay in the review of Plan:MK due to Covid-19 and the White Paper announced. However, some progress has been made on the adoption of the VALP and background evidence on the unitary Buckinghamshire New Local Plan.
Essex Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
Four more authorities in Essex have adopted up-to-date strategic Local Plan policies since our Autumn Local Plan Watch, bringing the total with up-to-date plans to five out of 14 authorities in the county. A number of other emerging Plans are at an advanced stage, but Uttlesford, Thurrock, Rochford and Southend are notable exceptions to plan-making progress.
Hertfordshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
The January 2021 meeting of the Hertfordshire Growth Board outlined the ongoing work programme for the South West Hertfordshire Joint Strategic Plan. Hemel Garden Communities and Watford Junction Quarter are examples of the emerging development within the strategic growth corridors going forward. The Housing Delivery Test (2020) results for Hertfordshire engages the presumption in favour of sustainable development for seven local planning authorities including North Hertfordshire, Stevenage and St Albans.
London Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
Riding the coat tails of the new London Plan, we expect significant activity across London’s local plans in the next 18 months. As the capital looks to recover from the pandemic, the competing priorities will be a challenge to policy officers London-wide.
Norfolk Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
While the Greater Norwich Local Plan captures strategic policies and site allocations across Norwich, Broadland and South Norfolk authority areas, a separate South Norfolk village clusters housing site allocations plan is being prepared to identify development sites to deliver a minimum of 1,200 homes in South Norfolk’s villages to 2038.
Oxfordshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
There has been significant change in the local plan positions across Oxfordshire’s five main areas, along with progress in the county’s wider 2050 Plan. Both Cherwell and South Oxfordshire are the subject of legal challenges against recently adopted plans, while the temporary three-year housing land supply across Oxfordshire has reverted back to five-years, as of 25th March 2021.
Suffolk Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
Since our autumn update, Suffolk Coastal has adopted their local plan to guide development until 2036, while Babergh and Mid Suffolk completed their pre-submission consultation in December 2020 and can expect examination of their joint local plan to progress this summer.