GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON PLANNING REFORMS

This week the Government has commenced consultation on reforms to the town planning system so as to achieve its target of constructing 1.5 million homes over the course of the current Parliament.

Amongst the proposals are:

• A national scheme of delegation - allowing planning officers to determine most planning applications, with smaller targeted committees dealing with strategic development.
• Structured training for councillors who are members of planning committees.
• Grading planning applications as minor, medium and major, reducing the number of documents required to be submitted for the lower grade applications.
• The submission of ‘build-out’ statements for major applications; providing commencement notices at the start of a development; and submitting development progress reports.

The development industry may regard the latter proposal to be particularly controversial, as missing construction targets (for whatever reason) could result in companies being prohibited from submitting future planning applications on other sites in their ownership. It is also not clear how introducing additional administrative requirements and procedures will speed up the delivery of 1.5 million homes.

For further details contact Peter Atfield B.TP MRTPI MTCPA FRGS FRSA on 01202 550100
or e-mail: [email protected]