Weekly planning news

Liverpool Street Station to be re-developed

Re-development plans have been approved ‘busiest’ station in London, Liverpool Street, meaning the first update to the structure since 1991.

The station has seen its customers triple over the last 35 years, and currently connecting 118million people east year, according to a press release on Network Rail’s website¹. According to the release, the approved plans will ensure the station is ready to accommodate more than 200 million people a year in the decades ahead.

There announcement has not come without backlash, with ‘thousands’ of objections being filed, according to The Times². Some prominent critics³ have described the scheme as a “disfiguring” of heritage architecture and voiced strong opposition to the expansion of retail space on the Grade II listed site.

You can find more extensive details of the proposed updates on Network Rail’s website.⁴

High Court rejects Birmingham housing regeneration scheme

The High Court has quashed planning permission for a 3,500-home regeneration scheme in Druids Heath after Birmingham City Council admitted it failed to publish a key financial document.

According to the BBC⁵, The outline plans would see the 76-hectare estate, including 1,234 existing affordable flats, demolished and replaced over 15–20 years with up to 3,500 homes, alongside commercial space and 25 hectares of open space. The scheme was narrowly approved in October 2025 on a casting vote, amid protests from residents.

Councillors were told up to 51% affordable housing could be delivered if external grant funding was secured. Without it, only around 11% - about 400 homes - would be affordable. Residents, represented by Central England Law Centre, challenged the decision, arguing the council unlawfully failed to disclose its Financial Viability Assessment (FVA), which justified the lower figure.

In a consent order, the council accepted that withholding the FVA breached the Local Government Act 1972. The authority has said it will now publish the document and seek to bring the scheme back to committee “as soon as feasibly possible”.

Greybelt homes approved despite sewage objection

Thurrock Council has granted outline permission for 412 homes on green belt land in Corringham, despite objections over sewage capacity.

According to Planning⁶, the scheme, on arable land off Southend Road, also includes land for a primary school and a care home. Planning officers advised members that the site does not strongly contribute to key green belt purposes, including preventing urban sprawl or stopping neighbouring towns from merging. As a result, it meets the National Planning Policy Framework’s (NPPF) definition of “grey belt”, where development is not automatically considered inappropriate.

Officers noted the proposal exceeds affordable housing policy, offering 50 per cent provision against the council’s 35 per cent requirement, alongside infrastructure improvements and new green space.

Anglian Water objected to the plans, citing capacity constraints in the foul water network and potential pollution risks. However, officers said these issues could be addressed through conditions requiring further technical work and agreement with the water company before development proceeds.

1. https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/planning-approval-for-network-rails-transformation-of-britains-busiest-station
2. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/london/article/liverpool-street-station-plans-approved-bg698jgvx?gaa_
3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yk95y53p9o
4. https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/planning-approval-for-network-rails-transformation-of-britains-busiest-station
5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c74w289wn02o
6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5yk95y53p9o