Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance), which sets out a proposed response to the Government’s White Paper consultation.

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director (Public Protection, Planning and Governance) on the MHCLG White Paper for planning for the future.  The Government is consulting on fundamental reforms to the planning system.  It proposes to build a new simpler, clearer and quicker system that would actively encourage sustainable, beautiful, safe and useful developments but at the same time make it harder for developers to escape their obligations to improve infrastructure.

The Government is also consulting on four associated measures until 1 October 2020: changes to the standard methodology for calculating housing requirement; First Homes; temporarily lifting the small sites threshold for affordable housing; and extending the current permission-in-principle to major development.    www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changes-to-the-current-planning-system.

The Head of Planning summarised the White Paper and explained that a response has been drafted for Members to consider and add comments. It was structured around three pillars and 24 proposals.  The three pillars being:

Pillar One – Planning for development. These proposals focus on certainty and delivery by proposing the organisation of land and associated simplified routes to planning permission.

Pillar Two – Planning for beautiful and sustainable places. To have good design in the planning system, to introduce a fast-track for beauty through changes to national policy and legislation to fast-track high quality development which would reflect on local character and preferences.

Pillar Three – Planning for infrastructure and connected places. The Government could seek to use developer contributions (levy) to obtain a greater proportion of the land value which occurs through the grant of planning permission.

The White Paper notes that areas zoned as “protected” will basically continue with the existing planning process, with all existing Green Belt designations remaining in force.

Within the “growth” areas, certain pre-approved development types will be given automatic pre-approval via the new permitted development rights. These new permitted development rights will also have to take account of local design codes.

Changes to the Standard Methodology - The new methodology proposes to introduce a new element to take account of the number of homes already in the area and an affordability adjustment that takes account of changes over time. The new standard methodology currently results in a requirement for 667 dwellings per year, compared with the current requirement for 875 dwellings per year.

Members raised and discussed the following:

1.    It was agreed that change was needed but concern was expressed in terms of the watering down of the democratic process.  Members felt that local views and their electorate’s visions would not be taken into account, it seemed to be controlled by the Government’s national codes and policies.

2.    Further comments were made on the lack of emphasis on climate change, environment impact and affordable housing. 

3.    Concern was expressed in terms of the Infrastructure Levy and its use; would there be sufficient levy to complete what is required locally by the community? Growth area developments – what type of development would be permissible?  Head of Planning explained that there will be national codes but local authorities would also have localised design codes and officers processing planning applications would check proposals against agreed design codes before applications are approved.

4.    On a positive point it was felt that getting local plans through would be swifter.

5.    Members agreed that a robust response was required to the proposals listed within the consultation paper.

It was noted that individuals could submit comments directly to the Government’s consultation by 29 October 2020:  www.gov.uk/government/consultations/planning-for-the-future.

RESOLVED:

(Unanimously)

That Head of Planning circulates a draft response to Members for comment.