Ministers study reform of planning system

Governance

The government is to launch a review of national planning policy in England. 

“Land availability, as constrained by the planning system, is the most significant barrier to building more houses,” said the Treasury this week.

Robert Jenrick, the secretary of state for housing, communities and local government, will “shortly set out proposals for comprehensive reforms”. 

This will be followed by a Planning White Paper in the spring. 

“These reforms will aim to create a simpler planning system and improve the capacity, capability and performance of local planning authorities to accelerate the development process,” said the Treasury. 

“Where local planning authorities fail to meet their local housing need, there will be firm consequences, including a stricter approach taken to the release of land for development and greater Government intervention. 

“The Government will also explore long-term reforms to the planning system, rethinking planning from first principles, to ensure the system is providing more certainty to the public, local planning authorities and developers.”

Meanwhile, the Treasury it is to merge the two funding streams of the Housing Infrastructure Fund into a single long-term funding pot to unlock new homes in areas of high demand across the country. HIF is funding numerous transport projects.