Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2020

This was laid before Parliament on 24 June 2020.

The Regulations come into force on 1 August 2020 with the exception of Regulation 20 and 21 which came into force on 25 June 2020:

• Regulation 20 relates to Part 4 (temporary buildings and uses) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015
• Regulation 21 relates to Part 12 (development by local authorities) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015

These Regulations amend the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/596) (“the General Permitted Development Order”) to allow development to assist in supporting the Government’s economic renewal package following the coronavirus outbreak.

They provide an additional allowance for the temporary use of land from 1 July 2020 to 31 December 2020. They also introduce a new permitted development right to allow a local authority to hold a market for an unlimited number of days without the requirement to submit an application for planning permission beginning with 25 June 2020 and ending with 23 March 2021.

The Regulations also introduce a permanent permitted development right to allow additional storeys to be constructed on existing purpose-built blocks of flats to create new homes. This means that a full application for planning permission is not required for this development, while at the same time allowing for local consideration of key planning matters.

In addition, these Regulations amend existing permitted development rights to ensure that new homes developed through permitted development rights provide adequate natural light for the occupants. In addition, they make minor technical amendments to
the General Permitted Development Order and the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 2007/783) (“the Advertisement Regulations”).

The Regulations also amend the Town and Country Planning (Compensation) (England) Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/598) (“the Compensation Regulations”) to limit the compensation liability where a local planning authority withdraws the new permitted development right to extend upwards existing purpose-built blocks of flats to create additional homes by making a direction under article 4 of the General
Permitted Development Order.

The explanatory memorandum to the Town and Country Planning (Permitted Development and Miscellaneous Amendments) (England) (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 is here.