Responding to the launch of the Building Better Building
Beautiful Commission’s final report, Cllr David Renard, the Local
Government Association’s planning spokesman, said:
“Councils are committed to building the homes the country
desperately needs and healthy prosperous places for people to
live, work and play in. We want to work with government on
standards to future-proof all new homes and ensure they are
accessible for all ages and environmentally sustainable.
“It is vital that the planning process is protected as part
of this, and that local communities have a say over the area they
live in. This is the best way to ensure homes are built to high
standards with the necessary infrastructure in place, and
affordable housing provided.
“Planning departments also need to be properly resourced,
and allowed to set their own planning fees, with taxpayers
currently footing a £200 million annual bill to cover the cost of
processing applications.
“Planning is not a barrier to housebuilding with councils
approving nine in 10 planning applications and are granting
permission for more homes than are being built.
“We are pleased this report recognises the challenges
around permitted development rules. We urge government to go
further and scrap them altogether, handing communities back the
ability to oversee all developments.”
