The Government have announced plans to allow planning permissions that would have been lost during lock down to be automatically extended.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) have confirmed that the measures will enable developments which have already received the grant of planning permission, and would lapse between 23 March and 31 December 2020, are to be extended until 1 April 2021.
It appears that in most instances, no application will be required other than for planning permissions, which will have already lapsed before the provisions come into force. Such cases will be subject to an additional environmental approval process before the extension can take effect.
This is one of number of measures that the MHCLG have implemented to support the planning system during the pandemic. Details of when these and other changes including extensions to construction site working hours are expected shortly.
For more information, please contact Hannah Langford, Partner in our Real Estate & Projects team.
