The UK government has announced a significant overhaul of local planning committees to address the housing crisis and stimulate economic growth. The proposed reforms aim to expedite planning decisions, reduce delays, and improve certainty for developers. Key measures include allowing applications compliant with local development plans to bypass planning committees, empowering planning officers with greater decision-making authority, and introducing mandatory training for planning committee members. A national scheme of delegation and streamlined committees for strategic development are also planned.
These changes align with updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the government's broader "Plan for Change," which includes building 1.5 million homes over five years. Alongside these measures, additional funding of £5 billion for housing has been announced, including £500 million for affordable housing projects.
The government also plans to introduce 'brownfield passports' for easier approval of proposals meeting design standards and has set up initiatives like the New Homes Accelerator and an independent New Towns Taskforce to unlock stalled housing projects. Public consultation and collaboration with planning experts will shape the final proposals.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner emphasised that the reforms aim to modernise the planning process, facilitate economic growth, and address the housing needs of communities nationwide.
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