Simonicity Blog

The Town Library

Our weekly update on decision letters issued in the preceding week by the Secretary of State or Planning Inspectorate on section 77 and 78 appeals in relation to proposals for major development that have been determined following a public inquiry, rather than informal hearing or written representations. Summaries are for information only and are not to be relied upon as advice.

Our latest update as to recent rulings of the Planning Court together with any relevant appellate judgments, along with a commentary by Town Legal LLP and links. Where appropriate, we also include other relevant public law rulings from other courts. Summaries are for information only and are not to be relied upon as advice.

Our full archive of summaries is available at this link

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Our archive of commentaries for Planning Court rulings, relevant appellate judgments and other relevant public law rulings from other courts where appropriate.

Town Legal has developed, with assistance from legal engineers Simmons Wavelength Limited, an interactive data visualisation tool to assist in showing statistics for planning appeals determined in England and Wales between 2014 and October 2024. The tool breaks down the data by date, outcome, appellant, housing numbers and/or local planning authority, and is interactive so users can click on the visualisations to explore the data in more depth.

Specialist planning law firm Town Legal LLP has teamed up with leading planning and environmental barristers’ chambers Landmark to launch the Planning Court Case Explorer – a business intelligence tool designed to provide clients, and anyone interested in the planning process, with free to access data on cases which have been heard in the Planning Court since its inception in 2014 up to 31st August 2023. Case Explorer also includes data on cases subsequently heard in the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Talk About Town

03/07/2026
Have you got the energy for this?

The Government’s ambition for Clean Power by 2030 and Net Zero by 2050 is transforming the physical infrastructure required to deliver its vision of a sustainable, secure and affordable electricity system.

Written by:

Jamie Davies and Martyn Jarvis

Image by Andy Mallins
Planning Reform, Political Fragility and Delivery in Greater Manchester

For those of us advising on major development in Greater Manchester, the current planning landscape feels both more supportive and more demanding than at any point in recent years.

Written by:

Kathryn Jump

13/05/26
Transport-Led Placemaking and Regeneration: The Framework for Delivery is Here

Transport infrastructure has always shaped cities. But for much of the past two decades, the legal and planning framework for deliberately using transport investment to catalyse regeneration has been fragmented, underused and underfunded. But all of that is changing.

Written by:

David Mathias

23/03/26
The BNG Consultation Response: What the Feedback Shows and Future Changes Inbound

The Government has published its response on improving the implementation of biodiversity net gain (“BNG”) for minor, medium and brownfield development.

Written by:

David Mathias and Tanika Zeidler

23/03/26
Thank you for your call: am I data centre number 1 in the queue?

Increasing demand for data centres has brought the constraints of the country’s electricity grid and challenges in the planning system sharply into focus.

Written by:

Jamie Davies and Martyn Jarvis

13/01/26
Securing Clean Energy – A review of the draft NPPF policies

Whilst much of the attention in respect of the proposed reforms to the NPPF has focused on policies relating to housing, viability, and what constitutes a reasonable walking distance to a well-connected train station, there are significant policy changes proposed for all types of development.

Written by:

Martyn Jarvis

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