Holmes & Hills’ Planning & Development team have successfully delivered their second series of CPD certified Planning Seminars covering The Localism Bill 2010. The team, lead by David Whipps, presented two seminars on the Bill earlier in the year in North Essex and after some very positive feedback decided to present two further seminars in South Essex (Basildon) and Suffolk (Bury St Edmunds) which took place on September 28^th and 29^th respectively.

The Planning team have now presented their talk to over 100 property professionals – surveyors, architects, property consultants, planners, developers and local authority representatives – from across the region and are organising two further seminars to take place in the coming months in order to satisfy demand.

David and his colleagues, Jo Lilliott and Steven Hopkins, discussed a range of provisions in the bill including:

-          Scrapping regional plans including national/regionally imposed housing targets

-          Enabling local communities to propose developments which may not require planning permission subject to referendum

-          Changing the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

-          Changing the planning enforcement regime

After the talk, once all questions had been answered, attendees were invited to enjoy wine and canapés as they discussed the implications of the Bill with each other and with the speakers.