Financial Pressures vs. Planning Compliance in Construction – a balancing act

Failing to stick to approved planning permissions to cut costs can prove to be risky for  players in the construction sector. This is according to energy litigation experts – Energy Solicitors Limited. 

Construction companies should be compliant to planning policies and follow the digital twin initially set up along with maintaining the ‘Golden Thread of Information’ ensuring all information on a building is up to code, easily accessible, reliable, up to date and accurate. 

A pair of tower blocks in Woolwich, London, were ordered for demolition in 2023 on the grounds that the building violated the planning policy with at least 26 material deviations from the approved planning permission. 

Following an appeal by the developer Comer Homes, the demolition was reversed with design changes and two multi-million pound pay-outs ordered. 

Daniel Parkin, Sales Director of construction-focused CRM firm KMS commented: “This project can act as a case study for the industry. If the building followed the digital twins approved by the council ahead of construction, the building may have been up to code and would not have had the demolition ordered. On the other hand, if Comer Homes did not maintain the ‘Golden Thread of Information’ for the project, they may have struggled to appeal against the demolition, resulting in the reversal of decision and reduction in planning deviations.” 

Victoria Myers Senior Partner at Energy Solicitors Limited added: “Failing to stick to approved planning permissions can be seen as a cost-cutting measure to ease the financial pressures. However, this can backfire with severe consequences. At ESL, we aim to support the construction sector by working hard to claw back money mis-sold by energy brokers. By winning cases against unscrupulous energy firms and rogue brokers we can help to ease some of the short-term financial pressures.”