Derbyshire Archives - Page 3 of 19

Fighting with the Green Belt

21st June 202320th June 2023 by Gary Stringer

Always an emotive topic and one that our main political parties are using to fight the housing crisis and win over the electorate, our Heritage Consultant Ruth Gray looks at the history, purpose and future of the Green Belt.

The Green Belt is an emotive topic and one that our main political parties are using to fight the housing crisis and win over the electorate. Back in 2020 The Heritage Alliance stated:

‘Government data shows that there has been a 62% increase in the loss of greenfield Green Belt land since 2013, with 315 hectares lost in 2016/17 alone. The National Government should develop clear guidance for local authorities on housing requirements to protect designated land, support the creation of new Green Belts where local authorities have established a clear need for them and ensure departments work together to direct economic and housing growth towards areas with capacity for redevelopment on brownfield sites. This will protect a significant proportion of our nature reserves and our valuable natural heritage.’ ¹

The nineteenth-century precedents for the greenbelt, (also at the time called ‘the agricultural belt’) include the 1837 plan for Adelaide attributed to William Light, and James Silk Buckingham’s scheme for a model town. The agricultural belt was promoted by the early Garden City movement. The agricultural belt was intended to give a precise edge to the town, provide fresh air, act as a buffer from surrounding communities, and be used for the production of food. Economically, it was a way of limiting the growth of the town, of controlling land speculation on the edges of the town, and of stabilizing the value of land in the surrounding agricultural area.²

From the concept of the agricultural belt arose a whole host of new green models that have that informed twentieth-century urban design: greenbelts, green wedges, greenwebs, green corridors, and greenways. But it is the greenbelt that receives the most attention and is integral to many political debates. The Metropolitan Green Belt around London was first proposed by the Greater London Regional Planning Committee in 1935. The Town and Country Planning Act 1947 then allowed local authorities to include green belt proposals in their development plans. In 1955, Minister of Housing Duncan Sandys encouraged local authorities around the country to consider protecting land around their towns and cities by the formal designation of clearly defined green belts. The Green Belt we know today has remained largely unreviewed throughout the post-war era. ³

Today the Green Belt has become a bit of a political football between the two main parties and a recent government survey found that there is considerable misunderstanding about the purpose and function of green belt, including that people often conflated Green Belt and green fields, and overlook its original purpose having been to keep urban areas apart. ⁴ Recent proposals to change the planning system within the ‘Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill’, have some commentators arguing that the need for housing will only be met if development takes place on the Green Belt. As things stand, local councils decide their own housing requirements while considering local needs and whether building on the green belt is necessary. The Governments Research Briefing released on 7 February 2023 states:

‘The Government has proposed amending the NPPF to make clear that local planning authorities “are not required to review and alter Green Belt boundaries if this would be the only way of meeting [housing] need in full”. It has also suggested that National Development Management Policies, which the Bill would introduce, might include protections for Green Belt land.’ ⁵

Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour would give English councils more powers to build on green belt land to boost housing. However, he said construction would only take place where it does not “affect the beauty of our countryside”.⁶ Housing targets will come back under Labour but expect to be relaxed under the Conservatives. The current Conservative government are under pressure from their backbenchers to protect Green Belt from further development whilst Labour plan to increase powers to build. More power to local authorities and residents over development are being promised by both main parties. Either way the green belt is set to be the focus of much debate in the run up to the general election.

It is no doubt a complex process to consider development within the Green Belt however, Planning & Design are experts in assisting property and landowners with planning enquiries so please do get in touch on 01332 347371.

Ruth Gray, Heritage Consultant, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Class Q success at Little Owl Farm

19th June 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice have successfully overturned a decision to refuse Prior Notification of a proposed barn conversion at Little Owl farm in Dale Abbey, Derbyshire. Our clients proposed a conversion of an agricultural building to a two storey home with the associated building operations reasonably necessary for the building to function as a dwelling under Class Q of the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO).

Class Q, since 2014, has allowed the conversion of agricultural buildings into homes as a matter of principle under permitted development rights.

An appeal statement was prepared by Planning & Design Practice on behalf of the appellants against Erewash Borough Council’s decision to refuse the application. The Council resolved to refuse planning permission for the proposed development for the following reason:

“In the opinion of the Local Planning Authority, the proposed development does not comply with the limitations or restrictions specified in Class Q which permits a change of use of an agricultural building to a use falling within Class C3 (dwellinghouses). The agricultural building is not capable of functioning as a dwelling.

The style and condition of the building is such that the work necessary to convert this building into a Class C3 Use (dwellinghouses) would go beyond what is reasonably necessary for a conversion.”

During the appeal process, we argued that the site does meet the requirements of Class Q(a) through an assessment of the structural order of the building, the building’s enclosure, the capability of providing shelter and the capacity to accommodate essential domestic features of a dwelling, meaning it is of a condition capable of having its use changed to a dwelling. Therefore, the conversion will meet the definition of a dwelling as it can provide shelter to its inhabitants and has the capacity to accommodate domestic essentials.

We also brought the inspector’s attention to a nearby precedent within the Erewash Borough, using Planning & Design Practice as the agent, which was approved at appeal with the same original reasons for refusal. The Inspector for this application found that the building was structurally sound and strengthening the building would ensure its capability to function as a dwelling.

The Inspector found that, contrary to the Council’s position, the structural integrity of the building is sound and would form an integral part of the building, therefore, being capable of functioning as a dwelling. The building operations would be reasonably necessary in this instance and would not exceed the limitations set out in paragraph Q.1(i) of the GDPO. As such, the inspector resolved to grant the appeal and allow the conversion of the building as set out under Schedule 2, Part 3, Class Q of the GDPO.

Planning and Design Practice Ltd specialise in undertaking planning and enforcement appeals. We have extensive experience of the many types of planning appeals, from written representations to informal hearings and public inquiries.

The appeal process is there to allow the opportunity for an independent assessor to have a look at the application and decide whether it should be refused or approved purely based on the facts in front of them. It is important to ensure that the best argument is put forward for your appeal application.

If you have had planning permission refused or would like to discuss your options or chances at appeal, please get in contact for a free no obligation discussion on 01332 347371.

Megan Askham, Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Full planning permission granted unhindered by Class Q legislation

6th June 202317th May 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice is pleased to announce that full planning permission has recently been secured for the change of use and conversion of a modern agricultural building to form a single house within the defined countryside in Derbyshire Dales.

Class Q Legislation — ***Figure 1:*** *Photograph of the Dutch barn to be converted*

The Planning Team successfully secured Class Q approval for the change of use and conversion of the modern steel portal Dutch Barn in the first quarter of 2022. Following further instruction from our client Planning & Design Practice Ltd were tasked with securing Full planning permission utilising the clients ‘Fallback’ position for works which would fall outside of the scope of Class Q legislation.

Additional alterations include:

Wholesale replacement of all exterior cladding and roofing material;
Residential curtilage extension;
Installation of Solar PV Panels; and
Installation of external flue.

The application was accompanied by detailed illustrative plans prepared by our inhouse Architectural Team. The external alterations to the building in this scheme have been sensitively designed to respect the agricultural character of the existing building and its rural surroundings, and only consist of the insertion of windows to provide a functional but attractive internal living environment which were reasonably necessary for the building to function as a house.

***Figure 4:*** *Approved first floor plan*

The Full planning application route provided a fantastic opportunity for a much more comprehensive and coherent conversion unhindered by the parameters of Class Q legislation. The updated conversion proposals put forward would see all the existing exterior cladding (corrugated metal sheeting, fibre cement sheeting and timber boarding) removed and replaced with more energy efficient exterior wall and roofing materials.

The proposed Solar PV panels that would provide the majority of the electricity for the dwellinghouse and primary heating would be provided by a Ground Source Heat Pump system with a coil that is to be located to the west of the building.

The Court of Appeal in the case of ‘Mansell v Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council [2017] EWCA Civ 1314’ clarified when a ‘fallback’ development may be a material planning consideration for an alternative development scheme. The Mansell case reference as part of the submission confirmed that the previous approval secured under Class Q should be a material consideration in an application for alternative development as it represents a legitimate fallback position for residential development.

It was successfully argued that when having regard to the Court of Appeal decision and the benefits which the proposed scheme would deliver over the fallback scheme, planning permission should be granted.

The application was approved by the Local Planning Authority under delegated powers within the 8-week determination period.

We have vast experience of working on barn conversions both via Full planning and/or prior approval (Class Q) application routes. For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Andrew Stock, Associate Director – Chartered Town Planner, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

Behind the scenes of Derby Museums

17th May 202317th May 2023 by Gary Stringer

Member of the Planning & Design Practice team were fortunate recently to be given a behind the scenes tour of one of the Derby Museums storage facilities. Our Heritage Consultant Ruth Gray reports on our visit.

The former Derby Museums Service was made an independent trust around ten years ago. Derby Museums are the custodians and now administer, conserve, exhibit, and curate the collection of Derby City Council (DCC) the storage of the collections are currently held in four different locations around the city. Planning & Design Practice were thrilled to be invited to visit one of them.

Museums own and store many objects that were perhaps never meant for exhibition, but were acquired in order to preserve, for educational purposes for those who would study or write about them in the future. These collections are often vast and complex including things that need preserving very carefully to stop them from deteriorating. It is the responsibility of the collections managers to ensure that no harm comes to them from things such as infestation, damp and possible theft. It is a huge responsibility and a costly one. The buildings that house the collections are therefore equally important and should be of a high standard.

Recently museum collections in some parts of the UK have become incredibly high tech and one example is Leeds Discovery Centre where over one million objects are held in a state-of-the-art storage facility¹. This facility is fully accessible to the public and allows the cities collection to be shared with everyone. Derby Museums are also making great progress in sharing their collections too as can be seen by the RIBA award winning Museum of Making where everything is on display and accessible, with no dusty off-limits archive². But incredibly there are still many more objects held in the collections that the public cannot see.

The store we visited is quite small with a number of quite full rooms and has very narrow stairs so only eight of us were allowed to visit at a time. As we squeezed in Collections Manager Spencer Bailey explained that we should start at the top and work our way back down. So initially we had to climb four flights of narrow dusty stairs when we all reached the small landing at the top two doors either side led into small rooms on the one hand we found fossils dating back to prehistoric times when Derbyshire was under the sea and on the other was an intriguing room full of taxidermy birds of all descriptions but the one that stood out the most was the majestic Elvis the King Penguin.

As we descended the stairs, we visited many more rooms with racks full of diverse objects including butterflies and monkey skulls! Former offices full of files looked as they would have pre computer age they alone could be a display for the new generations to see. On the lower levels were racks of artworks all just waiting to be displayed again.

Clearly there is a need to update the management of the collection and we were very honoured to see these hidden objects and we are intrigued to see if there is some way that Derby Museums could amalgamate the four storage facilities into one manageable space along the lines of Leeds. After our visit we would certainly like to help them in that journey should the opportunity arise.

Ruth Gray, Heritage Consultant, Planning & Design Practice Ltd

1: https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre/visit-leeds-discovery-centre/

2: https://www.ribaj.com/buildings/regional-awards-2023-east-midlands-bauman-lyons-architects-museum-making-derby-silk-mill-culture-entertainment-derby

Appeal secures garage success

17th May 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice have successfully overturned a decision to refuse planning permission for the erection of a garage in Stanley, Ilkeston. The site is located in the Green Belt and a Conservation Area. An appeal Statement of Case was prepared by Planning & Design Practice on behalf of our client, the Appellant against Erewash Borough Council’s decision to refuse the application.

In line with our clients brief our Architectural Team, in collaboration with the Planning Team, prepared a scheme that would sit comfortably within the aesthetic of the Conservation Area whilst also considering the rural surroundings of the site. The scheme took into consideration the potential impact on the character of the area and the high boundary walls. These considerations informed the final scheme.

The garage was designed to be as in-keeping as possible with the surrounding area and match the design of the existing dwelling and boundary walls. The infilling nature of the development ensured that the garage was not out of the place in the area, due to the domestic nature of the site. The garage would also not impact the amenity of the area due to the fact that it will not obtrude from the domestic curtilage and will remain consistent with the nature of the area.

The Council refused planning permission under delegated powers on the grounds that the development was “inappropriate development in the Green Belt” and “it would fail to preserve or enhance the character or appearance of the Conservation Area”.

The Planning Inspectorate found that:

“The proposed garage would be positioned within the curtilage of the dwelling, between the existing house and the neighbouring property to the north. The garden area where it would be located appears as a small gap in a linear, relatively close pattern of development along Morley Lane. The built-up area of Stanley continues to the north, up to the junction of Morley Lane with Common Lane, and I consider the appeal site to be within the village.”

The Inspector goes on to state:

“The garage would have a contemporary design, with a flat roof that would differ from the traditional pitched roofs on buildings in the area, as would the green roof finish that is proposed. Despite this, the flat roof form and the positioning of the garage adjacent to a high wall, would result in the proposal being well contained, even without the presence of boundary planting. Only a small section of the roof would be visible above the wall, but given the verdant character of the area, I do not consider this would appear incongruous.”

The Inspector resolved to grant the appeal and allow the erection of the garage.

Planning & Design Practice Ltd is a multi-disciplinary team of Charactered Town Planners, Architects, Architectural Assistants and Heritage Specialists. Gaining planning permission is a key step in almost any development. We can take a project through from inception to completion, but we also offer the flexibility to engage a client’s own architects and provide a planning service, whilst our design team can also work with clients who have engaged other town planning professionals.

Planning & Design Practice Ltd are well versed in researching and understanding local Council’s policies to ensure the best possible case if put forward for our clients.

For a free, no obligation consultation to discuss your project, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on 01332 347371 or enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Third time’s a charm – PDP secure garage success

17th May 202319th April 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice have secured partially retrospective planning permission for the erection of a detached garage at the site with an existing host dwelling house, a residential annex and various outbuildings in the Derbyshire Dales District.

Work had previously commenced on the site due to an honest error by the applicant who believed the development fell within the limitations of Class E, Part 1, of Schedule 2 of the General Permitted Development Order (2015). However, as a small part of the garage is situated on land forward of the principal elevation of the original house, planning permission was required.

The garage will measure approximately 15m long x 12.1m wide x 4m high which has been reduced substantially in size since the previous two refused applications of the significant overall scale. The height of the building has been reduced from 5.7m and 5m in previous applications to 4m, reducing the impact on neighbouring occupants and the impact on the character and appearance of the site and its wider setting. The garage will be set in from the boundary and will have no overshadowing or overbearing concerns.

The garage will be solely used for private and domestic purposes and will not be used for any business, commercial or third party uses. The officer reiterates this point stating that the garage should not be used other than for purposes incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse.

The previously refused applications were submitted by the applicant themselves, without consulting a planning professional. These were refused in 2019 and 2020 prior to contacting Planning & Design Practice for assistance with the application. After submitting an application with Planning & Design Practice, there was a quick turnaround, with permission being granted prior to the original decision date. We are excited to see work progress on site to enhance the client’s site.

Our team of experienced professionals work with home owners on a daily basis to provide the technical knowledge, design ideals and relevant expertise to help guide you through what can be a daunting process.

Whether you need help from a planning expert to decide what you might be able to achieve, or help designing your dream home, here at Planning & Design we will listen to your aspirations and help you to understand what can be achieved. Our team can be there for you every step of the way, from the conception of an idea to the production of design proposals and the achievement of planning permission. Contact us on 01332 347371 for a no obligation consultation to discuss your project.

Andrew Stock, Associate Director (Chartered Town Planner) – Planning & Design Practice Ltd.

Building regulations

13th February 202325th January 2023 by Gary Stringer

We are pleased to be able to say we have been granted building regulations approval for two projects. The first being a barn conversion forming an extension to a dwelling, dealing with the complications caused by insulating solid walls and turning a space not designed for living in, into a comfortable dwelling extension. The second being a stone extension to a traditional dwelling in North Derbyshire where careful consideration was required to ensure the proposed roof structure worked alongside a complicated existing structure.

Understanding Building Regulations

Building regulations are a key set of guidelines and standards that all the vast majority of construction projects within the United Kingdom must comply with. These regulations cover a wide range of issues; including fire safety, energy efficiency and accessibility, ensuring that all buildings are safe, somewhat energy efficient and fit for purpose.

It is essential for clients to understand the importance of building regulations and to work closely with their architects to ensure that their construction projects meet all the necessary standards. Compliance with building regulations not only ensures safety and accessibility, but it can also lead to cost savings in the long run for the client, by making the property more energy efficient. It is worth noting that the energy efficiency standards set by UK building regulations should be taken as minimums and not a target.

Finally, it’s important to take into account that not having building regulations approval can make it difficult to sell a property and will certainly negatively impact its value.

In summary, building regulations play a crucial role in ensuring the safety, energy efficiency, and accessibility of buildings in the UK. Compliance with these regulations can bring financial benefits to the client and end user and it is crucial for clients to carefully consider how their project will comply with building regulations when planning out their own projects.

Here at Planning & Design Practice we can take care of your own construction projects, all the way through from the first planning appraisal to the completed projects sign off. This would be done with the help from our team of Chartered Town Planners, RIBA registered Architects and Architectural Technologists, ensuring that planning, design & technical details are all professionally handled from the very beginning of your project.

For a no obligation consultation to discuss your project, please contact us on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Traditional cottage reimagined

25th January 2023 by Gary Stringer

The design process for a planning application to renovate and extend this traditional cottage farmhouse in Threapwood near the village of Alton, Derbyshire began back in 2019. Gaining planning permission in Staffordshire Moorlands District is often challenging, so after five different design schemes were submitted in order to satisfy the Council, both Planning & Design Practice and our clients, the home owners are delighted that planning has finally been granted.

The owners decided to take on Threapwood farm from their relatives, and make it their forever home. The brief was to create an open plan kitchen and dining area, separate living space/snug, a larger main bedroom with ensuite and walk in wardrobe. It was important for the owners to try and retain as much of the existing history and character of the cottage as possible whilst upgrading the cottage to suit more modern standards. Removing an existing white UPVC conservatory and replacing it, was high on this list of improvements.

Whilst the cottage retained its full Permitted Development rights, the proposals could have included a single storey extension up to 8m and a two storey of up to 3m. However, both Planning & Design and the owners felt that this type of extension would not be appropriate to the size and scale of the existing cottage.

The owners also wanted to make use of the existing barn space, which is attached to the main cottage, as extra living space. A separate planning application for this was submitted.

Comprising RTPI Chartered town planners, RIBA Chartered Architects and architectural assistants, plus heritage specialists, our staff bring a wealth of experience from a range of backgrounds and various parts of the UK and Europe.

Our planners have worked in the public & private sectors, and have excellent working relations with Local Planning Authorities. This often proves invaluable and is a key to our success.

Our team of RIBA Chartered Architects and Architectural Assistants have a wealth of experience working with homeowners, developers and the public sector.

With values rooted in friendly service, integrity, teamwork and meeting client’s expectations, we provide honest and sound advice, mediate when required and maintain high professional standards.

For a no obligation consultation to discuss how we can help you achieve your dream forever home, please contact us on 01332 347371 or email enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Solar PV Farm within Green Belt to power up to 952 homes per year

20th February 202325th January 2023 by Gary Stringer

Planning & Design Practice is pleased to announce that planning permission has recently been secured for a 4.2MWp solar PV farm on a former landfill site within the Nottingham-Derby Green Belt.

The proposed 6.7ha solar farm would have the capacity to generate approximately 4.2MWp of electricity, enough to power up to 952 homes per year and offset over 1,790 tonnes of CO2 every year4, the equivalent of taking 747 cars off the road. It is anticipated that the solar farm will take up to 3 months to construct and will have an operational life of 25 years. Following construction of the solar farm, the site will be seeded with an appropriate grassland mix.

**Figure 1:** Approved constructional layout

**Figure 2:** Approved landscaping layout

National planning policy is strongly in favour of renewable energy developments. In particular section 14 ‘Meeting the challenge of climate change, flooding and costal change’ of the National Planning Policy Farmwork (2021) sets out key considerations in respect of climate change, stating the Government’s belief that this is not simply an environmental matter, but one which encompasses social, economic and environmental issues.

The application site is located within the Nottingham-Derby Green Belt. Inappropriate development is, by definition, harmful to the Green Belt and would not be approved except in very special circumstances.

Paragraph 151 of the NPPF states:

“When located in the Green Belt, elements of many renewable energy projects will comprise inappropriate development. In such cases developers will need to demonstrate very special circumstances if projects are to proceed. Such very special circumstances may include the wider environmental benefits associated with increased production of energy from renewable sources.”

It was successfully argued that the proposal will make a meaningful and valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gases and to meeting the UK’s renewable energy targets, and this factor should attract substantial weight in the overall planning balance. The very special circumstances necessary to justify the proposal were demonstrated, in this case, and therefore the scheme did not conflict with local or national Green Belt policies.

Solar farms are a simple and established technology providing a source of safe and clean energy which produce zero emissions when in operation. Solar energy is not only sustainable; it is renewable, meaning that we will never run out of it. It also enjoys the highest levels of public support for renewable energy in the UK, with 85% of the public in favour.

The Planning Team at Planning and Design Practice Ltd, on behalf of our client successfully liaised with key stakeholders in the preparation, submission and management of the planning application. The team of Chartered Town Planners are well versed in understanding and promoting renewable energy developments for all stakeholders to ensure the best possible case if put forward.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free no obligation consultation to discuss your project on 01332 347371 or enquiries@planningdesign.co.uk.

Andrew Stock, Associate Director (Chartered Town Planner) – Planning & Design Practice Ltd.

2022 – the year in review

3rd January 202321st December 2022 by Gary Stringer

As the year draws to a close and the holidays approach, our Director Ricard Pigott looks back to review what has been an interesting year, and looks ahead to the opportunities of 2023.

Review 2022

The annual rush to get things submitted and completed before Christmas at Planning & Design Practice has for us this year been punctuated by an unusual distraction in the form of the football World Cup. I have to admit that I was supporting Argentina in the final largely because of their universally loved number 10. Lionel Messi retired from international football in 2016 because of a catalogue of ‘painful’ failures but he was tempted back and managed to win the big one at the 5th time of asking. I think one of the key lessons from that victory was that if you keep persevering and ‘doing the right things’, anything is possible if you work as a collective and have strong leadership.

Which brings me to one of the issues of the day, Climate Change. Progress on reducing the UK’s carbon emissions appears slow, largely because local and national policies and government action appear to be out of step with public opinion. A YouGov survey has found that 80 per cent of people in the UK support regulations making solar panels mandatory on new-build houses (only 9 per cent oppose this). The survey also found that 66 per cent believe that battery storage should be included in new homes to increase the efficiency of solar panels while 60 per cent want to see heat pumps included in all new-build homes, with just 17 per cent opposed. MCS Charitable Foundation, who commissioned the survey, argue that unless a requirement for all new-build homes to have solar panels, battery storage and heat pumps as standard is included in the government’s Future Homes Standard, carbon targets will be hard to meet. And who can argue with this? If housebuilders know that these measures are mandatory they can be factored into costs from an early stage, safe in the knowledge that they are delivering a superior ‘product’ that is better adapted to meet our future needs.

It is encouraging to see that the moratorium on wind power seems to be coming to an end after more than a decade when it has been nigh on impossible to get planning permission to erect an on-shore wind turbine. You can read more about that HERE.

When it comes to retrofit and home improvements, the system is also out of step with the views of ordinary people. An article in the Architects’ Journal in February summed it up perfectly: “Rules governing listed buildings prevent us from upgrading single glazing on homes – completely bonkers when you consider our uphill struggle to sustainably retrofit the UK’s existing housing stock. We have removed the common sense factor in determining planning decisions; the idea that the natural state of a window would outweigh the need to reduce a building’s carbon footprint is perplexing.”

At a local policy level, whilst some local planning authorities are adopting their own supplementary planning documents or reviewing their Local Plan policies on tackling climate change, we feel that they could go further to raise standards. It remains a very important issues for local councillors, reflecting the public mood.

The requirement to achievement Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) on all developments larger than householder improvements is now becoming a reality and will become law from November 2023. BNG is an approach to development, and/or land management, that aims to leave the natural environment in a measurably better state (at least 10% better) than it was beforehand.

However, there remains uncertainty about how exactly this should be secured in instances where it can be achieved on site and even more uncertainty about how it can be achieved where net gain needs to delivered off site. The availability of offsite land to deliver BNG requirements appears to be a challenge but an even greater concern appears to be whether Local Planning Authorities have an appropriate administrative resource and skillset to deal with BNG in a timely manner.

For Planning & Design , we have had another year with many proud achievements for our clients and more details can be found on the News page on our website. Particular highlights include helping to provide a significant boost to rural employment opportunities in the Derbyshire Dales, planning permission for a new wedding venue in South Derbyshire, securing the change of use for a Derby drinking landmark, ongoing success in delivering Class Q barn conversions, and being recognised as an RIBA chartered architectural practice. All this in a year in which we celebrated our 20th Anniversary in providing town planning services, architectural expertise and specialised heritage advice.

We are delighted to have continued to work with a diverse range of clients including landowners, existing business owners, farmers and other architects including Matthew Montague, John Smedleys Ltd, Chevin Homes, Derby and Burton University Hospitals Trust, Evans Vettori, Derbyshire County Council, Elvaston Castle and Garden Trust, Callow Hall – Wildhive, Meadowview Homes, and Microsoft Rare Ltd.

In Derby we have got used to being largely back in the office again after 2 years of hybrid working and we can also celebrate another successful year for the Sheffield office which resulted in a move to the iconic Park Hill development, the Grade II* listed set of buildings overlooking the city.

Looking towards 2023, I can only hope that local planning authorities and other key organisations within the planning system can be better resourced as we are finding that 8 and 13 week determination deadlines are becoming increasingly meaningless. Reduced funding and a loss of senior staff has inevitably led to a gap in training and expertise, which in turn leads to longer application times and delays in the development process which has knock on effects for jobs, the economy and the environment. We are doing our bit at Planning & Design to develop our own talent by taking on graduates, sandwich year students and apprentices, and this has always been the approach taken by our long time MD and founder, Jonathan Jenkin, who is retiring at Christmas. We are very sad to see Jonathan hang up his scale ruler but wish him all the best in the future.

All that remains for me to say is that we will continue to strive for ever more sustainable development and hope to see many of you in person over the next 12 months. I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Richard Pigott, Director, Planning & Design Practice Ltd