New Planning Rules to focus relaxation on home improvements

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

Canada: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…
USA: Oye! Times readers Get FREE $30 to spend on Amazon, Walmart…

Prime Minister, David Cameron Deputy Prime minister, Nick Clegg has pledged to get the planning system “off people’s backs” and overcome the declining economy by easing restrictions for homes and businesses.

According to the changes introduced to the planning system, restrictions on extending homes or improving them and businesses will be relaxed. House owners will be allowed to extend their properties by up to eight metres without gaining full permission. While the businesses will be able to expand shops by 100 square metres and industrial units by 200 square metres. Shops and offices will be allowed to develop up to the boundary of the premises.

Almost 200,000 households apply each year for permission to make improvements such as conservatories, rear extensions and garage conversions. Application fees charged are typically £150 and professional fees can cost thousands more. The process can be delayed for months, even though around 90 percent of applications are approved eventually.

The changes to domestic planning permission will be time-limited and will get expire in 2015. Ministers hope this will not only boost the construction industry but also help in recovering the economy.

The Labour leader, Ed Miliband has attacked Mr. Cameron’s past record on the economy and told the Coalition’s austerity drive had restricted growth despite boosting it.

Mr. Cameron has out rightly rejected the Labour charges by stating: “This is a government that means business. We have got the team to deliver it. What really matters now with the Cabinet changes, with the extensive government changes that I have made, is that we really demonstrate that this is a government that means business.”

Article viewed on Oye! Times at www.oyetimes.com.