There's an interesting article on the Telegraph site today which mentions that 80% of planning applications get through anyway and suggests Cameron is out of touch with suburban voters. I would be certainly very annoyed if my neighbours decided to build out 30 feet in a way that would cut out the light to my kitchen. blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/iainmartin1/100180041/does-david-cameron-understand-the-suburbs/
Health and Safety checks. What happened to the link? I used it to go to the Beeb article. Maybe I got mixed up between threads. Can't keep up with jings when she's on a roll.
First sentence of article: "Under new rules to be introduced in April 2013, checks will no longer be routinely carried out on premises considered to be low risk, like shops."
They're only talking about low risk. Where risks are high, regulations will still be checked and kept in place.
Since it is actually finance, not planning regulations, that is preventing a lot of building work from taking place – whether constructing new houses or adding extensions – I can't see that this will make a great deal of difference. Presumably building regs will still apply.
The governments has decided that allowing people to build an extension of up to eight metres on their houses, without obtaining planning permission. This will also apply to business premises.
Is this really going to boost the economy. Are there that many people just waiting for the chance to throw up extensions on their property that would not otherwise be allowed? And what about the neighbours? Once an eyesore is up, it is there for good.
Oh, of course, "people are going to need new carpets and furnishings". The recovery is under way - not!