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The Property Market Monthly Fact File - August 2015
The property market fact file is a collection of data compiled each month by our Chartered Surveyors and the propertysurveying.co.uk team; collating survey data, statistics, trends and information from the property market. This aims to provide a single place where anyone with an interest in UK property can find the information they need.
To read the monthly fact file, click here.

Supreme Court rules that EIA omission does not invalidate planning permission
Ref. R (Champion) v North Norfolk District Council and another [2015] UKSC 52
Third party challenges to planning permissions have been frequent in recent years, exposing small procedural irregularities in an effort to overturn a decision. Often, these appeals have been trifling enough for the Courts to dismiss, but this case provides an interesting precedent concerning Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and the impact this form of significant procedural irregularity can have on a planning application’s validity…
To read the whole article, click here.

Newick neighbourhood plan survives High Court challenge
Ref. DLA Delivery Ltd, R (On the Application Of) v Lewes District Council [2015] EWHC 2311
The High Court has rejected the challenge of a local developer to the Newick Neighbourhood Plan, after the developer’s site was not included in the document. The new case provides a good opportunity for us to revisit the subject of neighbourhood planning and remind our readers of their chance to get involved locally…
To read the whole article, click here.

Smallest August price fall since 2007 bad news for beleaguered buyers The asking prices of property coming to the market over the last month (August) fell by 0.8%, but whilst in this era of perpetually increasing property prices this might seem like negative news, it was in fact the smallest August fall since 2007. With yearly prices still surging forward, there was no respite and few bargains to be had for buyers this summer… To read the whole article, click here.

Forthcoming legislation will introduce new measures to crack down on illegal immigrants renting properties
New measures being introduced by forthcoming legislation will crackdown on rogue landlords and make it harder for illegal immigrants to rent property.…
To read the whole article, click here.

New measures will allow shale gas applications to be fast tracked through a new, dedicated planning process
Plans have been announced by Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Amber Rudd, and Communities Minister Greg Clark to introduce a new –‘fast-track’ process for applications concerning shale gas exploration. Whilst the Government say that local voices will still be heard, the new measures will be aimed at ensuring communities and the industry benefit from a swift process for developing safe and suitable new sites.
To read the whole article, click here.

Figures reveal that a new brewery opens in Britain every other day Community Pubs Minister, Marcus Jones has revealed that Britain is once again a 'brewing powerhouse' as figures show that there are now more than 1,400 breweries… To read the whole article, click here.

Knock-on effect of bedroom tax policy on the housing market, landlords and tenants
When the media-christened ‘Bedroom Tax’ was implemented in April 2013, it was aimed at incentivising movement of social housing tenants from larger to smaller homes. The results have not been overwhelming, however, and we look at whether it is now time for the Government to reconsider…
To read the whole article, click here.

Right-to-Buy Policy to blame for housing shortage?
Supporters of the scheme say that it frees up social housing for those in more need, and feeds society’s aspiration to be a country of home-owners. Critics say that it actually reduces the overall housing stock available for the disadvantaged and for low income households, because new ‘affordable’ housing isn’t being built at a high enough rate to keep up with demand. We look at the history and the current state of the scheme…
To read the whole article, click here.

Mortgage Market Update
Various sources are claiming that now is as good a time to buy a property as there has ever been, with interest rates low and the property market surging forward. We have compiled stats from various sources around the country to give you a complete view of the mortgage market, in case you are looking to invest…
To read the whole article, click here.

And Finally....

In case you missed it - family quoted £2,323 to upgrade to superfast broadband

Are you thinking of moving somewhere more rural? If you are, you may want to think twice about your need for superfast broadband, after a Suffolk family were told it would cost £2,323 to upgrade…
To read the whole article, click here.