COVID-19 Notice

In these unprecedented times, Axiom Stone Solicitors will, in common with other businesses, be following the Government's official advice on social distancing and social isolating.

Public health measures must have the highest priority and, as a result, some staff will be working from home. Also, our offices will be closed to visitors.

However, we wish to reassure existing and potential clients that we will continue to provide the highest levels of service.

Please be assured we have a robust business continuity plan in place that is designed to minimise the impact on our service to you.

In addition, please continue to contact us electronically or by phone in relation to the progress of your matters or on any issues of concern to you.

Until further notice, service of claim forms, application notices and all other court documents and contractual notices must be made to our head office only (we shall not accept service through any other means). Our head office address is at Axiom Stone Solicitors, Axiom House, 1 Spring Villa Road, Edgware, Middlesex, HA8 7EB. We ask that all other correspondence be sent by email to the relevant member of Axiom Stone Solicitors. In the event that service of court documents or contractual notices is attempted by post, courier, DX, or fax to any address other than that of our Head Office, we cannot provide any assurance that they will be received or processed. We are grateful for your understanding at this time.

We will update this information regularly on our website (Please see COVID-19 Updates Here) and via social media.

Finally, we urge everybody to follow the official advice on fighting the virus outbreak so enabling you to stay safe and well.

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COVID-19: Boost for Developers

Bill speeds planning and offers safer ways to work

The COVID-19 pandemic, with its Lockdown and social distancing, has had a substantial effect on planning with developers unable to comply with the time limits in their planning permissions along with delays in appeals.

As a result, the Business and Planning Bill 2019-21 was introduced in the Commons on 25 June 2020.  The Government recognised the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses/developers and the need to provide safer ways of working because of social distancing. The Bill is now progressing through the Lords.

The Bill provides a mixture of measures and include:

  • A new way in which developers may vary the planning conditions regarding site working hours so as to allow temporary extended house, for a set period of time. The aim of this measure is to allow developers the ability to operate safe construction sites during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a temporary measure and the proposed end dates is 1 April 2021 but this could be extended;
  • The introduction into the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 of a new:
    • s. 93A which automatically extends planning permissions that have not been implemented within the time limit and which are due to lapse between 28 days after the Bill receives Royal Assent and 31 December 2020, to 1 April 2021;
    • s.93B which extends planning permission for those with a time limit for implementation between 23 March 2020 and 27 days after Royal Assent of the Bill to 1 April 2021 but only where Additional Environmental Approval is granted or deemed granted by the local planning authority;
  • Providing the Planning Inspectorate with the ability to use more than one means of dealing with a planning appeal. This could include local inquiry, hearing or written representations with the view that appeals will progress faster. This will be a permanent change and will take effect on the day of Royal Assent of the BIll.

Toby Matthews, Senior Associate

Tel: 0203 827 6107

Email: TM@axiomstone.co.uk

 

Mira Arezina, Associate

Tel: 0203 827 6100

Email: MIA@axiomstone.co.uk

 

For guidance and advice in relation to any Property Litigation matters, please contact Toby Matthews, Senior Associate on 020 3827 6107, Email: TM@axiomstone.co.uk or Mira Arezina, Associate on 0203 827 6100, Email MIA@axiomstone.co.uk in Axiom Stone’s Property Litigation Team.

Note: the information contained in this article is accurate at the time of publication on 13 July 2020. The remarks in this article are not a substitute for legal advice on the specific circumstances of any case.