Planning differences were behind the failure of ZhongRong Group’s plan to build a £500m replica Crystal Palace earlier this year.
The Hong Kong company had expected to secure land for the development ahead of getting planning permission and agreeing a business plan, something that is not normal practice in the UK where local authorities often have to proceed with more caution.
Richard Ford, head of international planning at PinsentMasons which advised ZhongRong, is proposing that the UK government find a middle ground that takes planning differences into account, and also consider reforms to the planning system.
