Illegal Sewage Spills Highlight Drainage Risks for Developers
Why drainage evidence is under the microscope Thousands of ‘dry‑day’ sewage discharges reported this year have shifted public and regulatory attention onto foul and surface‑water systems. In sensitive catchments, planning officers are tightening validation lists and insisting on site‑specific drainage evidence.
Climate Adaptation Is Lagging: Build Resilience Into Your Planning Pack
Adaptation is now a planning test As national assessments warn that the UK’s adaptation progress is too slow, planning officers are increasingly asking developers to evidence resilience: flood pathways, heat risks, drainage performance, and the durability of materials and landscaping. Submissions
Councils Losing Planning Powers: Why Fast Environmental Reports Matter
What’s changing and why it matters With ministers signalling tougher action on planning delays, councils that repeatedly have decisions overturned at appeal could face sanctions or even lose determination powers. Whether or not your Local Planning Authority is affected, the direction
Species Protection Rollbacks: Staying Compliant Amid Planning Reform
Policy shifts, real‑world risk Talk of loosening certain species protections to speed up delivery does not remove developer risk—it changes the nature of it. Communities will still challenge schemes they perceive as harmful, and planning officers will expect applicants to justify
Swift Bricks in New Homes: Planning for Biodiversity
From nice‑to‑have to planning condition Swift and cavity‑nesting bird features are fast becoming standard asks in new housing. Rather than treating them as last‑minute extras, it pays to integrate them at concept stage. That requires a clear view of baseline conditions—where
Green Space Offsets: What the Planning Bill Could Mean for Your Scheme
Central offsets vs local delivery Reforms under discussion may let developers contribute to a central biodiversity fund rather than delivering all habitat compensation locally. That could streamline approvals—but it will also sharpen public scrutiny. Schemes that visibly protect and enhance nature
UK vs EU Environment Standards: How Developers Can Stay Ahead
Divergence creates uncertainty Comparisons with EU environmental rules show the UK moving on a different trajectory in areas like biodiversity, air quality, and chemicals. Whatever your view, the practical reality for developers is more uncertainty and a greater need to evidence
Future Homes Standard 2025: Why Early SAP Modelling Pays
What the Future Homes Standard requires From 2025, new homes must be ‘net‑zero‑ready’ with significantly lower operational emissions. That means higher fabric performance, efficient services, and low‑carbon heat. Meeting the standard is achievable—but only if energy modelling is integrated early enough
Water (Special Measures) Act: Raising the Bar for Water‑Adjacent Sites
Higher bar for water‑adjacent development New enforcement powers over water utilities are rippling into planning. Schemes near treatment assets, reservoirs, and sensitive catchments are facing more questions about pollution pathways, foul capacity, and surface‑water management. The result: a higher evidence bar
£500m Nature Restoration Fund: Position Your Scheme to Benefit
What the fund changes Government support to restore nature and boost planning capacity creates an opportunity for projects that can demonstrate credible environmental uplift. Bids and planning submissions that clearly align with restoration priorities—and back claims with data—will rise to the