Communities set to be heart of planning system

The government have set out new measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which are said to prioritise local communities in the planning system.

It has been announced that the government plans to:

• strengthen the commitment to building enough of the right homes in the right places with the right infrastructure;
• keep housing targets but with new flexibilities to reflect local circumstances;
• ask competition watchdog for a study on the housebuilding market;
• propose penalties for slow developers that are not building homes that have already been approved;
• give power to local authorities to promote brownfield development and wider review to advance brownfield development.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Michael Gove commented:

"We have an urgent need in this country to build more homes so that everyone - whether they aspire to home ownership or not - can have a high-quality, affordable place to live. But our planning system is not working as it should.

If we are to deliver the new homes this country needs, new development must have the support of local communities. That requires people to know it will be beautiful, accompanied by the right infrastructure, approved democratically, that it will enhance the environment and create proper neighbourhoods.

These principles have always been key to our reforms and we are now going further by strengthening our commitment to build the right homes in the right places and put local people at the heart of decision-making.

I'm grateful to colleagues across the House for their hard work and support to drive forward these much-needed changes to create a planning system that works for all."