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Initial thoughts on the new #planningreform paper! Government is absolutely right to overhaul the planning system. There is a desperate shortage of homes in high-demand areas. It makes rents enormously expensive, encourages speculation, and harms our entire economy. Thread. 1/12
Experts are almost unanimous that our planning system is totally unfit for purpose. We need a clear, transparent, rules-based system which removes pointless, wasteful and sometimes even corrupt negotiations from the process. 2/12
We welcome replacing the current developer contribution system with a fixed levy: this will mean developers cannot negotiate down affordable housing contributions and ensure speed and certainty. Govt must make sure this leads to more social rented housing on-site. 3/12
Great news that the new infrastructure levy will be extended to permitted developments. These PDR schemes have drawn some valid criticism with this reform and some simple improvements to building regulations, these can be addressed. 4/12
Really positive that communities will be consulted from the beginning of the process; democratic input in planning should be up-streamed to input into plans, rather than giving incumbents opportunities to veto individual developments that meet local need and plans. 5/12
“The voice of those who stand to gain from development is not heard loudly enough, such as young people” – YES!!! The way we approach democratic input advantages homeowners and those who are long-established in an area, over those who will live in the homes. 6/12
It’s good that local plans should be brought forward faster, but the new deadlines for plan-making are ambitious for overstretched planning authorities. Government must address resourcing too. 7/12
However, we are concerned about exempting more small sites from making “section 106” contributions. Currently schemes over 10 homes are exempted, but this is being increased to 50. Social rented homes are needed more than ever. 8/12
We're opposed to 25% of affordable housing contribs being "First Homes". We're a campaign for people priced out of buying, but this will redirect funding from social rented homes. It is not right to prioritise homeownership over meeting the most urgent housing need. 9/12
It is an oversight not to address green belts. The term is misleading as they are not necessarily even green – previously developed sites are also in the green belt. They
are an arbitrary ban on homes in areas where we have the greatest housing need. 10/12
are an arbitrary ban on homes in areas where we have the greatest housing need. 10/12
We should protect valued green spaces but caring for the environment requires us to build sustainably in cities and around public transport hubs - whether they’re in the green belt or not. 11/12
We’ve touched on a few #planningreform issues here but there are plenty more. We'll be responding to the consultation in full and publishing our response in due course. We welcome feedback and ideas from our supporters - please reply in tweets! 12/12
