The government has moved towards localised planning application fees. This will allow Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to determine their own planning charges - subject to strict cost recovery limits.

Running until 10 March 2026, the Government has launched a consultation on the proposed wide-scale reforms of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). 

We look back on a busy year of planning consultancy and architecture and preview what's in the pipeline for 2026.

Two recent cases have highlighted the serious consequences of failing to comply with listed building heritage protections.

Your planning approval is secured. You can now begin to dream of your completed project. But where do you start? In this blog we outline the main stages in the journey from permission to completion and explain how we can help you make the process as smooth as possible. 

Salmon Planning + Architecture is delighted to announce the successful outcome of a planning appeal for our client, Galion Homes Ltd, to erect 30 new homes following Somerset Council’s earlier refusal of permission for a high-quality residential development at land off Queen Street, Keinton Mandeville.

This Thursday, Matt Green, Director of Architecture at Salmon Planning + Architecture, will join a live webinar hosted by Gendo, exploring exactly how AI-powered visualisation is reshaping the future of planning and design communication.

Class R Permitted Development Rights, introduced under the General Permitted Development Order (GPDO), allow agricultural buildings in England to be converted into flexible commercial uses without requiring a full planning application.

How a modest garage was transformed into a contemporary home working studio and relaxation retreat.

A Judicial Review is a legal challenge to a decision made by a Local Planning Authority or, at Appeal, by the Secretary of State or their appointed Inspector.

Appealing a planning decision can be a complex process, but it offers a vital opportunity to overturn refusals, modify unfair conditions, and prevent enforcement action. With expert guidance from a professional planning consultancy like Salmon Planning + Architecture, you can improve your chances of success by submitting a strong, well-evidenced appeal.

Continuing our 2025 series of case studies highlighting Salmon Planning Company’s appeal successes, this blog focuses on a recent win in the small settlement of Westham, near Wedmore, Somerset.

A review of the most recently published figures from each local authority in Devon shows that all areas are falling short of meeting their five-year housing land supply requirements.

The recently published statement on land supply in Bath and North East Somerset will present new opportunities for applicants and landowners seeking planning permission for housing in locations which are or can be made sustainable.

On 21 May 2025, important regulatory changes to Class Q Permitted Development Rights came into effect.  What are the new Class Q regulations? These reforms provide fresh opportunities – but also new considerations – for landowners and farmers looking to convert agricultural buildings into residential use without full planning permission.

When it comes to preparing a planning application with the best chance of achieving a successful outcome, one of the most underrated and crucial steps is canvassing neighbours and your local community before submitting the application.

The Government's revisions to the Planning Policy Framework open up significant new opportunities for farmers and rural landowners.

Sedgemoor is the latest area of Somerset to declare housing land supply figures are now at critical levels. This means the authorities will be required to grant planning permission unless a proposal unacceptably affects certain protected areas or assets, or where the harms ‘significantly and demonstrably’ outweigh the benefits.

Securing planning permission is an increasingly complex and daunting process - especially when it involves navigating ever-changing local policies, planning law and design expectations. One of the most common questions we are asked at Salmon Planning is: “Should I employ a planning consultant or an architect to get planning permission?”

Planning appeal win for development on an edge of village greenfield site in East Somerset