Labour’s fast start

Second, Labour appears seriously determined to deliver economic growth through planning. Angela Rayner was appointed deputy prime minister and housing secretary, with specific responsibility for housing, communities and local government. This means that for the first time in a very long time, planning and development is right at the top of the government’s agenda. 

Matthew Pennycook (housing minister) and Jim McMahon (local government minister) have also been appointed to the housing department to work alongside Ms Rayner.

“To have any chancellor announce in their first speech that they will reform the NPPF, consulting on a new growth-focused approach to the planning system before the end of the month, including restoring mandatory housing targets, is phenomenal”

Third, the deputy prime minister has already ‘called in’ two previously refused planning applications for her review and determination. The applications in question relate to large-scale data centres in Southern England. Ms Rayner has said that when she intervenes in the economic planning system, the benefit of development will be a central consideration and that she will not hesitate to review an application where the potential gain for the regional and national economies warrants it.

We don’t know what the outcome of the called in applications will be, but I am certainly impressed with the pace at which Labour are getting involved with planning.

Fourth, it was very interesting to watch Rachel Reeves’ first speech as chancellor of the exchequer. The first speech for any chancellor is a moment to really set the tone for future fiscal governance. So to have any chancellor announce in their first speech that they will reform the NPPF, consulting on a new growth-focused approach to the planning system before the end of the month, including restoring mandatory housing targets, is phenomenal.

The chancellor also stated: “Nowhere is decisive reform needed more urgently than in the case of our planning system.”

The chancellor went on to outline that she “met with the prime minister and the deputy prime minister to agree the urgent action needed to fix our planning system… and to take the urgent steps necessary to build the infrastructure that we need, including one and a half million homes over the next five years.”

This statement makes clear that the leadership team at the head of government is fully focused on planning reform, which is welcome news to the industry.

Finally, while only a rebranding exercise, Jim McMahon confirmed that the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has been renamed the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), which was the previous name before Michael Gove changed it under Boris Johnson’s premiership. I am hopeful that this change will be followed with increased local government funding to enable delivery.

Notwithstanding the above, more can be done. Indeed, more will be expected. Top of the list is the adequate resourcing of planning departments. Yes, there was a promise for 300 additional planners, but in reality we need more like 3,000 planners injected into planning authorities up and down the country to efficiently clear backlogs and push forward this growth and development agenda. We need the man and woman power to deliver growth!

“As a practitioner, it is encouraging to hear and see the new government immediately bolt out the starter gate with a focus on reforming the planning system to get Britain building again”

Reintroduction of regional spatial strategies is another critical step with significant positive benefits in delivering infrastructure, identifying long-term locations for growth (both housing and employment), facilitating collaborative climate change objectives and ensuring that biodiversity, ecology and well-being are strategically considered.

A lot has been said about the green belt and grey belt and I expect the new NPPF to pick up some these policy changes quickly. However, undertaking a review of the green belt is likely to be a lengthy task, so I’d encourage the government to set a clear timescale for the completion of this review. The industry needs to see action which clearly redefines green belt policy to enable 1.5 million homes to be built, so time is of the essence.

I think the government should also review how planning committees function – a lot of the blockages to development occur at this stage of the planning system and this could cause Labour significant issues going forward.

As a practitioner, it is encouraging to hear and see the new government immediately bolt out the starter gate with a focus on reforming the planning system to get Britain building again. And it’s not just chatter, the deputy prime minister (second in command) is responsible for MHCLG and the chancellor’s first speech was almost solely focused on sustained economic growth via planning and development.

However, this is a marathon and more needs to be done, so I will continue to watch this space.