Comment: Planning default position to be “yes”

Following George Osborne’s interesting comments re planning development in this week’s Budget, we hope you will be interested in the below topical comment from leading property law expert Alison Bailey at Wilsons Solicitors: "The announcement by George Osborne in the Budget on 23rd March 2011 that the Government is to tackle the planning system should be welcome news for landowners and developers. Of particular interest is his statement that the default answer to development should be “yes”. If this presumption is introduced quickly, it should open up more opportunities for land to be developed where development can be shown to be sustainable and should present landowners with opportunities to promote their land". If you would like further comment or a more full article or to interview Alison, please contact us as below: Notes to Editors Contacts: Alison Bailey, Partner, Wilsons Solicitors: alison.bailey@wilsonslaw.com 01722 427 560 www.wilsonlaw.com Lauren Alexander, MaltinPR: lauren@maltinpr.com 0207 887 1357 www.maltinpr.com A photograph of Alison is available at: http://www.maltinpr.com/alison-bailey Biography: Alison is a Partner at Wilsons and specialises in rural property matters, in particular, in acting for landowners on development of predominantly green field sites throughout the South of England. She acts on the residential development of major sites (50 plus houses), employment development and light industrial development. She acts for banks in the taking of security over agricultural property and development land. Wilsons is ranked as one of the top private client and charity law firms in the country, providing a unique offering to wealthy individuals, entrepreneurs, companies, landed estates, trust companies and charities.