A full planning permission will normally lapse after three years, which means that work must be started on the site within that time. With an outline planning permission, the time limit is two years from approval of details.

One way of avoiding these problems is to start work on site. The disadvantage of this is that it may then trigger an s106 planning obligation payment. So, a developer who wants to delay a development (eg because of the recession) would previously have had to submit a whole new application for planning permission. However, to overcome that difficulty, a streamlined procedure has been introduced, called an Article 10B(b) application. Under this procedure it is not necessary to submit plans and drawings, or a design and access statement, and the local planning authority does not need to repeat the statutory consultations (except those required under Environmental Impact Assessment Regs). This can also cover a listed building consent or a conservation area consent. Note that the 10B(b) procedure applies to all planning permissions – it is not restricted to major developments (as was originally intended).

At the same time, the procedure under s73 TCPA 1990 to get a planning condition removed has also been simplified. Source: Dechert LLP.