Latest news with #PDRs
GMA Network
a day ago
- Business
- GMA Network
Pasig RTC junks Anti-Dummy Law case vs. Maria Ressa, other Rappler execs
"In this case, this Court finds that the prosecution's evidence is grossly insufficient to establish the criminal liability of al of the accused by proof beyond reasonable doubt," the court said. The Pasig Regional Trial Court has dismissed the violation of the Anti-Dummy Law charges against Nobel Peace laureate Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa and five other officers of the news website. In an 11-page order, Pasig City Judge Marie Joyce Manongsong granted the demurrers to evidence Ressa and the other executives –Nico Jose Nolledo, Glenda M. Gloria, Manuel I. Ayala, Felicia Atienza, and James Velasquez. "In this case, this Court finds that the prosecution's evidence is grossly insufficient to establish the criminal liability of al of the accused by proof beyond reasonable doubt," the court said. In the information filed before the Pasig RTC, the prosecution accused Ressa and the others of allowing Omidyar Network Fund, a foreign corporation, to intervene in Rappler operations by issuing Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDR) to the investment firm in 2015. The anti-dummy case is related to a Securities and Exchange Commission order revoking Rappler's incorporation papers on allegations it violated a constitutional restriction on foreign ownership of mass media by issuing PDRs to Omidyar. The court said that the 2018 SEC decision itself did not establish the individual roles of each of the accused in the transfer of PDRs to Omidyar. "From the foregoing, it is apparent that the SEC assumed that each of the accused had a role ni the supposed illegal scheme based on their corporate positions ni Rappler and RHCI. It found such fact sufficient for the imposition of administrative sanctions on the corporations involved," the court said. "Nonetheless, ni the instant criminal case against each of the accused, the prosecution simply adopted the SEC findings in the administrative case and failed ot provide evidentiary support ot the supposed specific acts of each of the accused that led to the issuance of the PDRs to Omidyar," it added. The court said there was no proof of the alleged negotiations between Ressa, as representative of Rappler and RHCI, and Omidyar. It added that the 2018 SEC decision itself showed that not all the accused are directors of RHCI. Atienza and Velasquez, for example, were shown to be directors of Rappler only. "Likewise, the prosecution failed to submit any board resolution, corporate record or any other piece of evidence clearly establishing the involvement of each of the accused in the issuance of PDRs to Omidyar," the court said. –NB, GMA Integrated News
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
10 home upgrades that don't need planning permission
With stamp duty becoming increasingly expensive, it often makes more sense to improve your home instead of up and moving. The good news is that there are many things that you can do under Permitted Development Rights (PDRs), which are granted by parliament, and allow certain building and land changes without the need for planning permission. The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 is the legislation that sets out what's allowed (and what isn't) under PDRs. Jason Lowes, planning partner at Rapleys, flags how much less complicated things are if you don't have to go down the planning permission route. 'It cannot be stressed how much the shortage of planning officers, and supporting staff, at local authorities makes it hard for anyone to engage with the local authority, and — although it may sound strange from someone who makes their living from submitting planning applications — if it is possible to avoid a planning application, it is very much worth doing.' Some parts of planning regulation have become less stringent but there are areas where it's become stricter too. 'Legislation, policy and practice guidance, in planning terms, has not become less stringent in planning for development, however, there has been an increase in permitted development rights for householder development,' says David Bainbridge, planning director at Savills. In general, the planning system has added more detail, so homeowners unsure of what is allowed are able to have some clarity before they start the planning process. Read more: 7 property planning trends of 2025 'Over the past decade, there has been a steady flow of measures being introduced which remove the need for planning permission for a wide range of projects,' says Mike Spurgeon, associate director at Lanpro. 'Some have helped to clarify what can and can't be done, while others have made some smaller projects possible where they may not have been previously.' Homeowners might be surprised at some of the often-major home renovations that don't require planning permission and are allowed under PDRs. Whether you think they're an eyesore or the future of green energy, solar panels are allowed to be added to most homes, without the need for planning permission, as long as they don't protrude too far from the roof. 'Increasingly, solar panels are being added to existing roofs or in the gardens of homes,' says Spurgeon. 'Many projects such as this will not require planning permission provided they do not project above the highest point of the roof or are too far from the roof-slope on which they are mounted.' Buying a home with an outbuilding has all manner of benefits but a major one is that there are fewer planning variables limiting the size and shape of an outbuilding than there are with extensions. 'It has also long been the case that outbuildings, ranging from garden sheds to buildings housing swimming pools, can be constructed on land close to the house. In some cases, leaving a small gap between the existing house and an outbuilding can mean it can benefit from the permitted development rights relating to outbuildings rather than those relating to extensions,' says Spurgeon. Simon Rix, planning consultant for the National Homebuilding & Renovating Show, also flags that outbuildings up to 2.5 metres high (or sometimes higher) can be built without permission as long as they aren't used as separate dwellings. These include outbuildings that are used as garden offices and gyms. It's likely that basement conversions will need structural approval, but planning permission isn't always required. This is particularly the case if the external appearance of the house remains unchanged. If you're lucky enough to live in a house that's built between 1 July 1948 and 28 October 2018, you can add additional storeys without obtaining planning permission. 'One of the newer permitted development rights is the right to extend your home upwards by one or two storeys, which is proving very popular in a number of locations,' says James Doherty, principal planner at Boyer. Read more: What are green mortgages and are they the future? 'Detached houses can add up to two storeys, while terraced and semi-detached houses can add one or two storeys depending on the existing height,' adds Rix. 'The extension cannot exceed 3.5 metres above the highest part of the existing roof, and it must be on the original house rather than an extension or outrigger.' There has also been a relaxing of the rules around extensions that are allowed under PDRs so that they can be bigger in proportion to the plot size. 'The PDR requires that extensions (which includes any extensions delivered under this permitted development right or under a separate planning permission) and other buildings must not exceed 50% of the curtilage [i.e. land which serves and forms part and parcel of the house],' says Bainbridge. 'Last year the government proposed to remove this limitation to provide householders with further flexibility to extend their homes to suit their needs. This would mean that extensions could cover more than 50% of the curtilage of the dwellinghouse.' Another example of how planning laws are being made more amenable to environmentally friendly energy sources is the approach being proposed for EV chargers and air source heat pumps. 'Last year, the government consulted on changes to the permitted development rights that allow for the installation of off-street electric vehicle charging infrastructure,' says Bainbridge. 'This included amending the rights to allow the installation of wall-mounted and upstand electrical outlets within two metres of a highway and the installation of larger upstands and changes to the permitted development right that allows for the installation of air source heat pumps on domestic premises.' While not green by any stretch of the imagination, air conditioning units can also be installed without planning permission as long as they are below a certain size and you don't live in a designated area. It's not just residential properties that are covered by PDRs. '[They] extend to some commercial properties, for example the erection, extension or alteration of an industrial building or a warehouse doesn't always require a planning application,' says Lowes. Read more: How to check your home's Energy Performance Certificate 'In addition, certain changes of use don't usually require a planning application, for example change of use of a shop to a home.' The ever-popular loft conversion can also come under permitted development 'as long as they don't exceed volume limits (40m³ for terraces, 50m³ for detached/semi-detached homes) and don't extend beyond any existing street facing roof slope,' says Rix. Want to make a splash? Well, it's easier than you think. Outdoor pools and hot tubs rarely need planning permission and the same goes for indoor pools as well. 'As long as it doesn't take up more than half the garden an indoor swimming pool can be built without a full planning application,' says Rix. It's a little-known fact that you can add a porch to you home without permission, as long as it's no bigger than 3m². There are, however, some exceptions to the above and certain homes and areas will still have to seek out planning permission. In terms of areas, these include Sites of Special Scientific Interest, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, The Broads, National Parks, World Heritage Sites and Conservation Areas. 'Additionally, some councils issue Article 4 Directions which remove certain permitted development rights within a specific area. Whilst rare, sometimes restrictive conditions can remove certain permitted development rights,' flags Doherty. In terms of homes that are exempt, listed buildings, maisonettes and flats fall into this category. 'Those living in listed buildings will always need to apply for any works — internal or external — which could have an impact on the historic character of the building. Many require both planning permission and listed building consent,' says Spurgeon. Whatever the changes you plan to make, or the type of property you live in, in the first instance, it's important to check with an experienced planning consultant to see whether you need to seek out planning permission or can make upgrades under PDRs. Read more: How rising house prices can impact your finances How to negotiate house prices How to find your 'forever home' in 2025Sign in to access your portfolio
