It will not have escaped those in the development industry, that the incoming government proposes changes to the planning system. Early news is that;
Straight away the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been renamed to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government (MHCLG) headed by Angela Rayner.
In the Kings Speech today, announcement of a Bill which aims to streamline planning to accelerate the building of 1.5 million homes in England in the next five years (that’s a daily average of 822!)
The newly appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, has announced that a consultation on amendments to the National Planning Policy Framework will be launched by the end of the month as part of a series of “urgent” reforms to the planning system.
In one of its first decisions as an administration, Keir Starmer’s Government has removed a “de facto ban” on onshore wind by placing onshore wind on the same footing as other energy developments in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
Consulting on a new growth-focused approach to the planning system before the end of the month, including restoring mandatory housing targets.
Changes not only to the system itself, but to the way that ministers use our powers for direct intervention.
The Levelling Up Secretary will also write to local planning authorities alongside the National Planning Policy Framework consultation, making clear what will now be expected of them including universal coverage of local plans, and reviews of greenbelt boundaries.
Giles Moir (Director) commented; ‘at face value, this is positive news for the development industry. We will be closely monitoring the changes with the best interests of our clients in mind. The seemingly positive attitude towards development is welcomed – although in order to make a real impact, this positive attitude needs to be mirrored at grass roots level- i.e. within local planning authorities – both with officers and councillors alike, which, I suspect, may take a little time to bed in.’
