Journal

From 1 April 2026, the planning appeal system in England will change in a way that many people have not yet fully appreciated. At first glance, the amendment looks procedural. In reality, it fundamentally alters the strategy for preparing applications. For most refusals, the appeal will no longer be the place where you properly argue your case. Instead, the decision is increasingly won or lost before the application is ever submitted. This is not simply an administrative upda

What the new draft means for developers in Norfolk and Suffolk In January 2026, the government published a draft Design and Placemaking Planning Practice Guidance for consultation. While it may read like another policy document to add to an already long list, this guidance is important. It signals how planning authorities are expected to assess design quality going forward and how refusal decisions will increasingly be justified. For developers working in Norfolk and Suffolk