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HCLG committee ‘unpersuaded’ that government planning reforms will make system quicker and more democratic
An influential cross-party committee of MPs has said it is “unpersuaded” that ministers’ proposed planning reforms will produce a cheaper, quicker and more democratic planning system.
A new report by the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee expressed concern over “the lack of detail” in the government’s vision for a new zonal planning system in England.
The government published its ‘Planning for the Future’ white paper last year, proposing a radical shake-up of England’s post-war planning system.
Proposals included three categories of development zones (growth, renewal and protected) and replacing Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) with a single Infrastructure Levy.
Under the three-tier system, areas designated for growth would receive automatic permission in principle.
But the report said “the lack of details about the three areas approach” has made it difficult to assess how it would function and MPs suggested considering the inclusion of additional categories.
The report also called for greater detail on proposals to scrap Section 106 agreements and CIL and replace them with an Infrastructure Levy.
It said: “The government must clarify how it will replicate the binding nature of Section 106 agreements and which parts of the approach will be retained.
“If they cannot be easily replicated, especially without creating additional complexity, then we recommend retaining Section 106 agreements.”
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Several housing and planning bodies warned that the new levy could hit affordable housing numbers, in response to the government’s consultation on the white paper last year.
The committee also said it was seeking to understand how the government aims to reach its target of building 300,000 new homes annually by the mid-2020s.
Clive Betts, chair of the committee, said: “The government’s aim of developing a planning system that enables buildings to be built more quickly and with greater input from local communities is welcome, but it is far from clear how the current proposals will achieve this.
“The government’s three areas proposal needs to be reconsidered.
“We also need much more information about the government’s target to build 300,000 homes every year – as well as the changes to the housing formula announced last December. It’s all very well having numbers on paper – but we need to know how we get to them in reality.”
The committee suggested that to incentivise timely development, councils should be allowed to levy full council tax for every housing unit that remains incomplete 36 months after receiving planning permission.
David Renard, planning spokesperson for the Local Government Association and leader of Swindon Council, said: “There are also more than a million more homes on land earmarked in local plans for development by councils that are yet to be brought forward by developers for planning permission.
“It is therefore good the committee backs our call for councils to be able to levy full council tax on incomplete properties, as an incentive to get developers building more quickly.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: “We have not yet published a response to the consultation so these conclusions are speculative.
“As the report rightly identifies, the planning system is in need of improvement and our reforms will mean a quicker, more efficient and less bureaucratic planning system so we can build more much needed homes across the country.
“Local people and high quality design will be at the heart of these changes, while protecting our heritage and green spaces.”
