Today (Tuesday, 11 March) the Government has published the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will update the planning system with a view to expedite building.
Cllr Adam Hug, Housing and Planning spokesperson for the Local Government Association said:
“This Bill has included some of the LGA’s long term asks, such as making it easier for councils to purchase vacant land for house building, localising planning fees, and increasing planning capacity. These will speed up the planning process and ease the building of new homes and necessary infrastructure we need across the country.
“However, there remains concerns around how it will ensure that councils – who know their areas best and what they need – remain at the heart of the planning process. The democratic role of councillors in decision-making is the backbone of the English planning system, and this should not be diminished. Councils approve nine out of ten planning applications that come before them.”
Notes to Editors
The LGA has responded to several government consultations that are related to this area:
Response to Planning Reform Working Paper – Modernising Planning Committees
Response to Planning reform working paper: Development and nature recovery
Response to Compulsory Purchase – Compensation Reforms
ENDS