The latest news and case studies from the planning and architecture team
WHERE DO WE BEGIN ?
Introducing our brand new planning and architecture quarterly newsletter. We’re thrilled to bring you the latest updates, insights and exclusive content straight to your inbox. Here’s what you can expect from this edition:
INSIDER KNOWLEDGE
Including a deep dive into the recent changes to planning legislation, updates to permitted development rights and importantly how they will affect you.
FEATURED CONTENT
Celebrating Women in Construction with a historical look into who designed the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.
TEAM SPOTLIGHT
We interview our architectural team and discuss their memorable cases from the past year.
PODCAST
Please take a moment to listen to Episode 2 of our Sheldon Bosley Knight Unplugged podcast with our head of planning and architecture, associate director, Natasha Blackmore da Silva.
DID YOU KNOW THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE DESIGNED BY A WOMAN?
The planning and architecture team at Sheldon Bosley Knight is fortunate to be based in Stratford-upon-Avon surrounded by many inspirational buildings and historic architecture.
As part of Women in Construction week, and International Women’s Day, the team wanted to shed light on a particular woman architect who has provided a significant contribution to this town as well as the architecture profession as a whole.
In 1928, Elisabeth Betty Scott changed the course of history becoming one of the first women architects to win a major international architectural competition and design a notable public building in the UK.
The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre (now known as the Royal Shakespeare Theatre), was designed by Scott after the original was destroyed by a fire in 1926. Scott’s design was described as “remarkable in a place of such strong and live traditions” by art and architectural historian, Nikolaus Pevsner.
However it was criticised by the musical director Sir Edward Elgar, as “unspeakably ugly and wrong”, and who described Scott as an “awful female” and refused to enter the building.
SHAKESPEARE THEATRE WAS
Furthermore, the press at the time wrote headlines such as “Girl Architect Beats Men” or “Unknown Girl’s Leap to Fame”.
These comments show the challenges women architects faced at the time, despite their talent. Scott, herself, is even known for disliking being labelled as a “female architect” rather than simply an “architect”.
The Art Deco theatre is now Grade II* Listed and stands proudly on the banks of the River Avon in the centre of Stratford-upon-Avon. Although redesigned both internally and externally a few years ago, it remains a momentous piece of architecture within the town centre.
as the Marie Curie Hospital and Newham College in Cambridge. In the late 50s, Scott joined Bournemouth town council architects’ department and continued to practice in the architecture field until she was 70 years old.
We in the planning and architecture team have been inspired by Scott and other women who have been trailblazers within the profession.
We hope to do the same for young women keen to make a career in this incredible sector.
By Indujah Srikaran
Overall, Scott’s success with the theatre initiated a transformation for women working in architecture within the 20th century. Her career continued to remain successful within her lifetime,
PERMITTED DEVELOPMENT RIGHTS
UP-TO-DATE ON CHANGES TO PLANNING LEGISLATION
We want to keep you as up-to-date on changes to planning legislation as possible, so please see below recent changes to policy, legislation and permitted development rights, that may benefit you and your properties.
CLASS R CHANGES
Class R which previously allowed for an agricultural building to be changed to B8 (Storage & distribution), C1 (hotels) or Use Class E (commercial, business or service), has also be extended.
From May 21, Class R buildings are also able to be changed to Use Class B2 (general industrial) , Use Class F2(c) (outdoor sport and recreation) or the provision of agricultural training.
The previous floor space limit of 500m2 has also risen to 1,000m2.
AGRICULTURAL NOTIFICATIONS
From May 21, 2024, the following amendments to the Agricultural Notification Process have also come into force.
Class A of Part 6 which allows for new agricultural buildings and tracks on agricultural holdings of more than five hectares in size, has increased the size limit allowance. The previous limit of 1,000 square metres has increased to 1,500 square metres.
Class B of Part 6 which allows for agricultural tracks or extensions to agricultural buildings has also amended its size limits.
Buildings can now be extended by 25% instead of 20% and the limit has been raised to 1,250 square metres.
CLASS Q CHANGES
From May 21, 2024 a new iteration of the Class Q Permitted Development (agricultural buildings to residential dwellings) has been introduced.
The main difference from the old version is the previous five-unit restriction has been increased to 10 new dwellings. Alongside this, the amount of space you can convert has increased to 1,000m2, however the maximum size of any dwelling is now 150m2. Therefore, to have 10 new dwellings under Class Q, each one will need to be 100m2 each.
Additionally, you will be able to extend to the rear of the barn or agricultural building by up to 4m on any hard surface which was present on or before July 24, 2023.
The biggest factor and advantage for owners, is more barns will qualify under Class Q, including barns no longer used for agricultural purposes. At this time there are no changes to barns used for equestrian purposes unless they are part of an established agricultural unit.
It is worth noting that whilst the changes will be coming into effect on May 21, 2024, the government has also confirmed a 12-month transition period, during which time the outgoing Class Q system can still be used.
If you have been considering applying under the outgoing system and still think it would be more beneficial to your needs, please get in contact so we can ensure your application is submitted and determined before May 21, 2025 to take advantage of this reprieve.
ONE YEAR AT SBK INDUJAH AND CHARLIE
Indujah Srikaran and Charlie Cartwright both joined the planning and architecture team in April 2023. We thought our first P&A newsletter would be a good opportunity to catch up with them, discuss their most memorable cases, and what they have learnt from Sheldon Bosley Knight during the last year.
How have you enjoyed your first year at Sheldon Bosley Knight?
Indujah: I have thoroughly enjoyed my first year working within the planning and architecture department.
Charlie: I’ve had a fantastic first year working alongside a range of professionals in the property field.
What’s
the best bit about your job?
Indujah: Being able to find a solution encompassing the requirements for budget, time, quality and design, is something I find satisfying. It is also great to see a happy client when their brief has been met!
Charlie: The best part is working in the office and on site. It provides a change in scenery and no day is the same.
What is the most interesting project you have been involved in so far?
Indujah: A Class Q replacement scheme at Williams Barn, creating a new application to achieve what the planners were looking for, whilst making the client happy.
Charlie: Castle Farm. This project is a large, rural diversification of an historic farm building and provides the capacity for 12 units.
Why work at Sheldon Bosley Knight?
Indujah: Every department at Sheldon Bosley Knight collaborates and shares knowledge with each other to come to a great, well thought out solution for clients.
Charlie: Working here presents fantastic opportunities to work with and alongside the other departments within the Sheldon Bosley Knight business.
CHANCELLOR UPDATE AND KING’S SPEECH
The new chancellor’s speech to the treasury at the beginning of July marks a clear shift in the government’s understanding of what the planning system can provide. Rachel Reeves MP, has hit the ground running, promising to “get Britain building again”. She has announced a raft of targets for the housing sector. In her first speech in her new job, she promised an overhaul of the planning system, an additional 300 planning officers for local authorities across the country and 1.5 million homes to be built in the next five years.
Whilst the much touted additional 300 new planners is unlikely to fix problems overnight, the re-introduction of compulsory housing targets is a welcome return which, alongside the introduction of a ‘grey belt’ will help to deliver this housing target.
It is good to hear the government is committed to planning reform and accelerating housing delivery through the Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The planning sector is a key component of economic growth and supporting local authorities so they can speed up the process in vital. For too long we have been working with a planning regime that is outdated and lacks the resources required to deal with the level of applications it receives.
The King’s speech reinforces the chancellor’s promise for significant reform and addresses the well-documented need for a reform to the existing planning system in order to deliver both housing and infrastructure projects which will enable economic growth nationwide.
Associate director and head of the planning and architecture department, Natasha Blackmore da Silva said:
“Following on from the new chancellor’s speech, I am cautiously optimistic. Along with the other crises the UK is facing, including climate change, the housing crisis is close to breaking point, and it deserves to be one of the top priorities of the new government.
“At Sheldon Bosley Knight we are hopeful the promised government support will ensure applications are processed in a timely manner and the presumption for sustainable development will remain at the heart of the process.
“It may be a bit too early to get our hard hats and shovels out just yet, but it is a definite step in the right direction.”
Daniel Jackson BA (Hons), Town Planner, Assoc RTPI, Assoc RICS Custodian / Co-Owner
Natasha Blackmore da Silva Bsc (Hons) MSc MRTPI Assoc RICS Associate Director - Planning and Architecture
Indujah Srikaran