Our Planning Director Haydn Jones responds to the Government’s planning system consultation documents that have been published today:
After being widely reported in the media over the past few days, we’re pleased that the Government’s proposals for reforming the planning system have arrived.
The two documents are called Planning for the Future and Changes to the Current Planning System, and can be read here.
As a strong supporter of the plan-led system, we are pleased to see it remains as the focus for identifying new sites.
We also welcome the Government reaffirming the need to build 300,000 new homes a year.
But does having a standard method for deriving housing requirements which takes account of land constraints mean that high affordability Green Belt areas will see less housing built than they need?
It is important that the development plan system does not grind to a halt in the short-term through these reforms.
Whether these proposals turn out to be revolution or just an evolution of the system, it is vital that Local Planning Authorities are given the financial resources to see changes made quickly and efficiently.
We will be fully engaged with this consultation and I am happy to discuss the implications of the consultation with interested parties to better understand what it means for their clients and land interests. Please get in touch at haydn@richborough.co.uk