Blog

Residents and businesses are being asked to comment on the issues and options that the Council’s emerging local plan should look to address. The Council is preparing a new Local Plan following major national planning reforms and the withdrawal of the previous draft plan. The Plan will guide where new homes, jobs and supporting infrastructure should be located across the borough up to 2043.  The consultation outlines options for locating new development and asks for views on h

We’re pleased to welcome  Lucy Wilson  to  Tyler Parkes . Lucy joins us as  Associate Planning Director , bringing experience from  HS2 (High Speed Two) Ltd  and a strong track record supporting complex, large-scale infrastructure and stakeholder-led planning projects. Lucy will be working across our planning portfolio, helping clients navigate strategy, risk and delivery through the planning system.

The planning environment remains pro-development in intent, but delivery is increasingly shaped by three realities: (1) plan-making lag, (2) acute housing land supply shortfalls, and (3) a tougher expectation that schemes “earn” permission through design, infrastructure and nature outcomes. Two national developments are setting the direction of travel: the December 2024 National Planning Policy Framework (as corrected in February 2025), and the Planning and Infrastructure Act

The Government has launched a 12-week consultation on a revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), setting out wide-ranging changes intended to create a more rules-based and predictable planning system. The proposals focus on boosting housing delivery in well-connected locations, strengthening the brownfield-first approach, and encouraging higher-density development around railway stations. These are  consultation proposals only , and the Government is seeking views f

Dear Clients, Colleagues and Friends, As we head towards the end of 2025, we would like to thank everyone we have worked with this year. It has been a period of rapid policy change, new opportunities in the planning system, and continued progress on projects across the region. Your support and collaboration have been central to our success. Despite ongoing challenges in housing supply and national policy uncertainty, the year has brought many positive outcomes, including succ

We have secured planning permission for a new two storey detached house in Bournheath, Worcestershire, creating over 1,200 square feet of residential floorspace on an underused part of our client’s garden. Although the site itself is level, the land and houses opposite sit significantly lower, which introduced challenges in and opportunities for objectors based on the proposal’s perceived height and overall impact on the street scene. Through sensitive design, we were able to

Following the engrossment of the related S106 Agreement, we are very pleased to have received formal planning permission from Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee for new padel courts at Sutton Coldfield Tennis Club.   This project will provide additional padel tennis courts, bringing the total number of padel courts at the Club to four. The Club’s proposal includes the installation of 3 floodlit covered padel tennis courts in place of 1 lawn tennis court and the repo

Birmingham City Council opened a  six-week public consultation  on its  Birmingham Local Plan – Focused Preferred Options Document (FPOD) , running from  Thursday 23 October to Thursday 4 December 2025 now extended until Friday 19 th December 2025 The FPOD sets out the emerging  Development Strategy for the city to 2044 , identifying  15 Growth Zones  as the main focus for new housing, employment, and regeneration. These are locations with strong regeneration potential, go

The Government’s  Planning and Infrastructure Bill  has now completed its passage through the House of Lords and is expected to receive  Royal Assent shortly . Once enacted, it will introduce some of the most far-reaching reforms to the English planning system in over a decade, with direct implications for developers, landowners and local authorities. A more interventionist approach to housing delivery A central aim of the Bill is to accelerate the delivery of new homes. It g

Walsall Council is now consulting on the Walsall Local Plan (Regulation 18 – Regulation 18 Issues and Preferred Options).   The consultation marks the initial stage in the preparation of Walsall's new Local Plan setting out options for accommodating growth and development including the overall strategy for how much, where, and what type of development will take place in Walsall up to 2042 (the plan period), as well as setting out draft planning policies and site allocations t

Solihull Council is revising its Local Development Scheme (LDS) to realign the Local Plan timetable with the emerging  West Midlands Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) . The SDS will set out housing and employment growth across the region, and as such Solihull is avoiding moving ahead too early and risking failure on the duty-to-cooperate.  Under the updated LDS timetable, the Plan will go through Issues & Options in early 2026, with two further rounds of mandatory consultati

Tyler-Parkes is pleased to announce that Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council has  granted Permission in Principle  for the development of  up to two self and custom-build dwellings  at  1817 Warwick Road, Knowle . The decision confirms that the proposed site is acceptable in principle for residential development, recognising the site’s potential to contribute to local housing needs and to support the growing demand for self and custom-build opportunities within the borough.

The Housing Secretary is expected to announce a major change to the planning system.  Under the reported plans, any proposal for  150 homes or more  that a council intends to refuse would instead have to be referred to central Government for determination. This marks one of the most significant recent shifts in planning policy and reflects growing concern in Whitehall over slow housing delivery, stalled local plans and chronic under-supply across much of the country. Central

Wootton Wawen Tyler-Parkes is delighted to have secured Permission in Principle for the development of a single dwelling on an infill plot in Wootton Wawen, within Stratford District.    The application site is located within the Wootton Wawen infill boundary, where residential development can be supported.  Stratford District Council only has a 2.74-year housing land supply, falling considerably short of the required five years.   Consequently, the tilted balance is triggere

Tyler-Parkes is delighted to announce that planning consent has been granted for the development of a new solar field at the Farncombe Estate in Broadway. This permission is the culmination of over two years of collaboration with Farncombe Estate, ARB Architects, and the wider technical team. Together we carefully addressed a wide range of planning considerations, including landscape and visual impact, glint and glare, archaeology, ecology, and highways. Working constructivel

Solihull Council has made what one senior councillor called a “decision of national significance” by reclassifying Knowle, Dorridge and Bentley Heath (KDBH) as a single town — a move designed to strengthen Green Belt protection around the settlements. The change means that, in planning terms, the Green Belt will now serve to prevent the  new town  from merging with other settlements, rather than separating the three villages from each other. Balsall Common has also been given

Birmingham City Council  has opened a  six-week public consultation  on its  Birmingham Local Plan – Focused Preferred Options Document (FPOD) , running from  Thursday 23 October to Thursday 4 December 2025 . The FPOD sets out the emerging  Development Strategy for the city to 2044 , identifying  15 Growth Zones  as the main focus for new housing, employment, and regeneration. These are locations with strong regeneration potential, good public transport connections, and acces

Policy review signals more flexibility ahead The Government is reportedly considering measures to make affordable housing requirements more flexible, amid growing concern that current targets are stalling development across the country. In London, Mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed that “nothing is off the table” as the Greater London Authority reviews the city’s long-standing 35 per cent affordable housing threshold. Developers argue that the existing target renders many schemes

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook has written to the Planning Inspectorate confirming that inspectors can once again recommend local planning authorities undertake Green Belt reviews as part of the Local Plan examination process. The announcement, made in October 2025, marks a significant shift in planning policy and restores a power removed more than a decade ago. It means that where a submitted Local Plan is found to fall short of housing or employment land requirements, P

Research published by the Home Builders Federation (HBF) has revealed that around 8,500 affordable homes due to be built in the next year...

Tyler Parkes is pleased to confirm that planning permission and listed building consent have been secured for the change of use and...

A recent High Court ruling has provided important clarification for developers and landowners promoting sites in the  grey belt . The...

Wyre Forest District Council is inviting landowners, developers, agents, community groups and other stakeholders to submit land for...

Bromsgrove District Council is currently reviewing its Local Plan, which will shape how housing, employment, and supporting...

Calcot Manor Hotel Tyler Parkes has secured planning permission on behalf of  Calcot Health & Leisure  for the creation of a Thermal...

Blue Forest Glenda Parkes has been working with the luxury Calcot Manor Hotel and Spa for several years and has recently secured planning...

Tyler-Parkes is pleased to announce that planning permission has been secured for a new astro-turf Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) at...

Tyler-Parkes has submitted a full planning application on behalf of Humco Ltd for the development of four new dwellings on a former car...

The  Planning and Infrastructure Bill  is landmark UK legislation introduced in March 2025, currently under parliamentary scrutiny. Its...

dreamstime.com Building a bespoke home offers the rare opportunity to create a residence tailored entirely to personal requirements....

dreamstime.com As pressure mounts to deliver 1.5 million new homes across England, the government has turned its attention to a...

Image Dreamtime.com The government has announced a major shake-up of planning and licensing rules aimed at speeding up the conversion of...

Image Landsec The UK Government has announced the formation of a new public development company, Platform4 , tasked with delivering...

dreamstime.com The government is actively reviewing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) regulations amid growing concern that the...

SMBC Solihull Council is currently consulting on a study of its settlement hierarchy with a view to reclassifying some of its settlements...

Zenith House Tyler Parkes is moving to new offices in Shirley We’re pleased to confirm that Tyler Parkes will be relocating to new...

dreamstime.com The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) are currently consulting on proposals to improve the...

dreamstime.com 1. Background: What Is the Simplified (Part 1) Appeal System? Introduced in 2009, the Part 1 written representations...

dreamstime.com We were very pleased to have received unanimous approval from Birmingham City Council’s Planning Committee for new padel...

We are pleased to have supported our clients, Longmead Securities Limited who represent the owners of land adjacent to Hamilton Road,...

Bromsgrove consults on Draft Development Strategy   Bromsgrove District Council adopted its current District Plan in 2017 (Bromsgrove...

New figures from TerraQuest’s Planning Portal Market Index suggest England may be entering a new era of housebuilding. In Q1 2025,...

dreamstime.com This week, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced  Extract , a powerful new AI tool set to transform the UK planning...

As the UK faces mounting pressure to accelerate housing delivery, one persistent bottleneck continues to frustrate developers and local...

dreamstime In a major step toward decarbonising home heating, the UK government has relaxed planning rules to make it easier for...

Smaller house builders are set to benefit from a major  planning shake-up  designed to speed up delivery, cut costs, and unlock finance....

The Government is preparing to launch a consultation on proposals that would allow planning officers to determine all applications...

After obtaining Prior Approval for the conversion of a former poultry unit to a four bedroom dwelling in Worcestershire last year, the...

We rely on Google for information, and councils use it for planning and enforcement decisions—but should they? The High Court has...

Key Changes in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill 1. Reforming Planning Committees A national delegation system will decide which...