Planning enforcement immunity periods
The Government are changing the planning enforcement immunity period for unauthorised development in England. This is set out in Section 115 of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act 2023.
From 25 April 2024, the period for which:
- a breach of planning for operational development and
- the change of use of a building to a dwelling
become immune from enforcement action will go from 4 to 10 years. Transition arrangements will still allow a 4 year period if works were substantially completed by 24 April 2024.
Maker Heights Conservation Management Plan
The Maker Heights Conservation Management Plan (CMP) is now a material consideration for land use planning purposes.
Maker Heights is an historically important former military site. It is located on a spectacular headland location on the Rame peninsula.
The CMP has been produced by Cornwall Archaeological Unit, with partners:
- Cornwall Council
- Historic England
- the Mount Edgcumbe Estate
- Rame Conservation Trust and
- Evolving Places Ltd
The aim of the Plan is to explain the significance of the site. It sets out a philosophy and strategy for future management, maintenance and repair of the site. It also sets out policies to helps guide a sustainable future for the buildings, monuments, green spaces and landscape.
You can view the Conservation Management Plan on the Rame Conservation Trust website.
Changes to notification and publicity of planning and related applications
On the 1 March 2024 the way in which planning notify and publicise planning applications has changed. Information regarding how we will publicise planning applications can be found in our publicising planning applications fact sheet.
The best way to ensure you are aware of applications in your area is to set up an alert to never miss a planing application via our online planning register.
Introduction of new short term lets use class and other measures
Government confirmed on 19 February that a new ‘short term lets’ use class will be introduced this summer as part of proposals to control such uses:
Short-term lets rules to protect communities and keep homes available - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
This recognises that in some areas there are large concentrations of short term letting uses that can impact negatively on the sustainability of communities.
The proposals include:
- A mandatory national register of short term lets. This will provide valuable information on their spread and help ensure accommodation is safe.
- That homeowners can continue to let out their own main or sole home for up to 90 nights a year
- The introduction of a new planning use class for properties used as short term lets
- Associated permitted development rights. One allowing for a property to be changed from a short-term let to a standard residential dwelling, and a second that would allow a property to be changed to a short-term let. Local authorities would be able to remove these permitted development rights, and require full planning permission, where they can show that uncontrolled short term lets would undermine sustainable communities.
The above will not apply until they are formally brought into force by Government.
Government have not yet provided details of the proposals and how they will work in practice, including timescales for the introduction of the new Register and the use class. We expect further details will be set out in the Government’s response to the consultations. This will include the timeline for implementation of the register, the use class and the individual permitted development rights - with the changes being introduced from this summer. We will update on the details of the proposals when provided by Government.
Call for sites 2024
The Council is currently exploring how the next Local Plan will deal with growth in Cornwall to 2050. Any revised plan will need to identify enough land to meet future requirements. This includes:
- new homes and employment space
- community infrastructure and tourism
- sites for Biodiversity Net Gain and Nutrient Neutrality mitigation and/or nature-based initiatives.
Our call for sites will be open initially between 20 February and 22 April 2024.
You can find full information and how to submit a site on our Call for sites webpage.
Planning news January 2024
We have published our Winter planning newsletters:
- Planning News for Local Councils and Agents
- Neighbourhood Planning Newsletter
You can find links to these newsletters on our Planning News page.
Our next newsletter is due end of April 2024.
