Keeping planning enforcement on track during lockdown

In an article published recently in Planning Magazine, Harry Spurr explores the use of mediation to resolve planning enforcement disputes during Covid 19.  With the appeals system facing huge backlogs, and enforcement cases unlikely to be prioritised, councils, landowners and neighbours face long delays and uncertainty.  Could remote mediation help?  As a flexible, without prejudice negotiation, facilitated by an expert and conducted via video conferencing, mediation offers particular advantages over litigation in the enforcement context: delivering clarity in cases that are legally and factually complex; preserving and repairing relationships between stakeholders; offering creative solutions beyond the scope of an Inspector’s powers on appeal; and, finally, speed and affordability.  As such, it is an option that those involved in handling enforcement cases would do well to consider, not only during Covid, but also beyond.  For Harry’s full analysis, read the complete article here.