Responding to new government guidance published today to help
restart the housing market, Cllr David Renard, Housing spokesman
for the Local Government Association, said:
“It is good that government has brought forward measures to
ensure that planning departments can continue to operate
effectively within current public health guidelines.
“We are pleased it has also acted on our calls by increasing
flexibility on publicity requirements for planning applications
and providing a clear steer to the Planning Inspectorate to make
greater use of virtual technology and written submissions so that
councils can quickly get Local Plans in place to support economic
recovery.
“Flexibility on construction site working hours needs to be
negotiated on a site by site basis with councils so that they can
consider the impact on local residents, many of whom will be at
home all day, including for work purposes, due to current
coronavirus measures.
“The Government needs to go further by allowing councils at least
five years to spend Right to Buy receipts to avoid the
coronavirus crisis exacerbating the current shortage of social
housing. Councils also need to be able to keep 100 per cent of
receipts, set discounts locally and increase the proportion of
receipts that can be used to meet the cost of replacement homes.
“This is critical if we are to get building again as we begin the
national recovery.”
