The Government has announced plans to grant an automatic extension until 1 April 2021 for any planning permission which is due to expire, or has already expired, between 23 March 2020 and 31 December 2020.
The extension will benefit those who have had their development programme suddenly held back by the lockdown, effectively reducing the usual 3 year period for implementing a planning permission to less than the statutory minimum. It is estimated that between 23 March and the middle of summer 2020 some 430 planning permissions comprising 10 residential units or more will be saved by the extension, potentially rescuing more than 24,800 new homes. The Secretary of State for Homes Communities and Local Government has promised to give effect to this extension "in due course". This will be welcome news for large and small developers who were at risk of losing the right to develop under their planning permission due to the delays caused by the Government's lockdown measures.
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