Related insights: Real Estate
Womble Bond Dickinson experts share their views on Spring Budget at North East Chamber of Commerce event
06 Mar 2024
On 6 March 2024, Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) experts shared their thoughts following the Chancellor's Spring Budget announcement, at the North East Chamber of Commerce's event.
Navigating planning roadblocks: the top challenge for housebuilders
05 Mar 2024
The process of obtaining planning permission in the UK has long been a significant challenge for home builders. The Home Builders Federation Report confirms that the two main obstacles for SME housebuilders are, chronic delays in the planning system and over-stretched Local Authority planning departments.
HM Land Registry – updating mortgage lenders
05 Mar 2024
As of the first week of January, HM Land Registry announced that it had launched a pilot scheme in collaboration with 10 mortgage lenders (who represent 85% of UK residential mortgage lending) in an effort to reduce progress chasing on pending mortgage applications.
Consultation on restricting ground rent for existing residential leases
05 Mar 2024
The government issued a consultation on 9 November 2023 to look at restricting ground rents in existing residential leases.
Ground rents in new residential leases were restricted to a peppercorn per year by the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022. Ground rents in leases which take effect from 1 July 2022 (or 1 April 2023 in relation to retirement home leases) have therefore effectively been abolished.
Ground rents in new residential leases were restricted to a peppercorn per year by the Leasehold Reform (Ground Rent) Act 2022. Ground rents in leases which take effect from 1 July 2022 (or 1 April 2023 in relation to retirement home leases) have therefore effectively been abolished.
When is a building electronic communications apparatus? Security of tenure under the Telecommunications Code
28 Feb 2024
In the recent Tribunal telecoms case of On Tower UK Limited v British Telecommunications plc, the Tribunal had to deal with two important issues under the Telecoms Code.
A lesson in local authority decision-making: Pratt v Exeter City Council
28 Feb 2024
The judgement against Exeter City Council (ECC) provides a useful reminder to Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) of their duties when granting planning permission. Notably, LPAs are reminded of their duty, known as the Tameside duty, to take reasonable steps to ensure that they have made sufficient enquiry before making a decision to grant planning permission. Further, it reminds LPAs of the importance of taking into account all material considerations, rather than just relying on the information presented by a developer in a planning application.
Brand new 'Planning Unplugged' podcast episode reviews single family housing issues
22 Feb 2024
How does single family housing fit into the national plan for housing?
Our host and managing associate James Clark is joined by managing associate Kate Ashworth and partner in WBD's residential team Tom Willows to talk about how transactions are shaped for single family housing deals, how planning plays a key role in ensuring a smooth development process, and the fine balance between ensuring suitable land use and maintaining housing supply.
Our host and managing associate James Clark is joined by managing associate Kate Ashworth and partner in WBD's residential team Tom Willows to talk about how transactions are shaped for single family housing deals, how planning plays a key role in ensuring a smooth development process, and the fine balance between ensuring suitable land use and maintaining housing supply.
MEES and listed buildings
22 Feb 2024
Since April 2023, the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard imposed by the Energy Efficiency Standard (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 (commonly known as the MEES Regulations) generally requires commercial properties to have a minimum energy performance.
Drop-in dropout: local authority decision to grant a 'drop in' application quashed
01 Feb 2024
Aysen Dennis, R (on the application of) v London Borough of Southwark
The recent High Court judgment has important implications for the interpretation of planning permissions and use of 'drop in' permissions following Hillside (learn more in our article here). It confirms that an outline, phased permission is not inherently severable.
Whether a permission is or is not severable, and can be amended by a later 'drop in' permission, will depend on whether this was intended when the permission was granted and the extent to which this is clear from the permission itself. Going forwards, if severability is intended, it must be designed into the scheme and made clear on the face of the permission and in the supporting documents.
The recent High Court judgment has important implications for the interpretation of planning permissions and use of 'drop in' permissions following Hillside (learn more in our article here). It confirms that an outline, phased permission is not inherently severable.
Whether a permission is or is not severable, and can be amended by a later 'drop in' permission, will depend on whether this was intended when the permission was granted and the extent to which this is clear from the permission itself. Going forwards, if severability is intended, it must be designed into the scheme and made clear on the face of the permission and in the supporting documents.
Latest episode of 'Planning Unplugged' podcast looks at Biodiversity Net Gain provisions for landowners
24 Jan 2024
What should landowners be expecting with the latest changes to biodiversity net gain regulations? Our host and managing associate Kate Ashworth is joined by managing associate James Clark and partner in WBD's agriculture team Andrew Farquharson to talk about what landowners should be looking for to take advantage of biodiversity net gain provisions and what basic management and responsibilities they should be tackling to maximise their land's potential.
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