The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has warned
Government plans to designate local areas as one of three types of
development zone (growth, renewal and protected) lack the necessary
detail – and says that it is unpersuaded that the proposals will
produce a cheaper, quicker and more democratic planning system.
In its comprehensive report on the future of the planning system,
published today, the Committee calls on the Government to revisit
its proposals. The Committee also asks for further information on
how the Government’s target to build 300,000 homes a year will be
achieved – and the tenure and location of these homes. The
Committee further calls for local authorities have more powers to
act where developers are too slow in completing sites they have
planning permission for – recommending that local authorities are
able to levy full council tax charges on incomplete properties if
sufficient progress has not been made within 36 months.
Publishing the report, Chair of the Housing, Communities and
Local Government Committee said:
“The Government’s aim of developing a planning system that
enables buildings to be built more quickly and with greater input
from local communities is welcome, but it is far from clear how
the current proposals will achieve this. The Government’s three
areas proposal needs to be reconsidered.
“We also need much more information about the Government’s target
to build 300,000 homes every year – as well as the changes to the
housing formula announced last December. It’s all very well
having numbers on paper – but we need to know how we get to them
in reality. Local authorities also need better options for
pushing developers to actually build what they have been given
permission for. We have called on the Government to allow local
authorities to levy Council Tax on homes that haven’t been built
years after they have been approved.”
“Of course, planning also has wider impacts beyond housing. There
were many issues that weren’t addressed in the Government’s
proposals – including how the changes will affect the
levelling-up agenda, economic recovery from Covid-19, and the
environment. We ask for further information, and consultation, on
all of these areas.
“Public engagement is critical in planning – and our report
stresses the need for the Government to really get to grips with
how it can best involve local people in the planning process.
This is essential if any changes to the planning system are to be
a success. We also highlight the need the need for the public to
still be able to comment on individual planning proposals – in
addition to engaging with Local Plans.”
