The Housing Forum has responded to the Government’s consultation on planning committees. You can read our responses in full here, Reform of planning committees consultation – response from The Housing Forum
The Housing Forum’s cross sector membership means that we are uniquely placed to bring together those who work within local authority planning departments (officers, and also local councillors), with those who put in planning applications – housebuilders, housing associations and architects.
During 2023, we ran a working group on planning which produced two reports on planning (Streamlining-planning and Planning validation requirements). More recently, we have brought our members together to discuss the government’s proposals for planning reform, including the proposals around reform of planning committees, and responded to the working paper on planning committees published late last year.
Housing Forum members from across the sector appreciate the rationale behind the proposed reforms – all agree that planning can become politicised in a way that does not serve the greater good, and that councillors can have pressure put upon them by local residents to block applications for reasons that are not, on balance, in the best interests of current and future populations.
Reducing the number of applications that go to committee would also have a beneficial impact on the resourcing demands placed on local planning departments, and could help improve the job-satisfaction and staff retention of professional planners, as they are being trusted to make more decisions.
We previously expressed some concerns around suggestions of using compliance with development plans and local policies as a factor for determining which applications go to committee, when this is rarely black and white. We are pleased to see that the Government has listened to these concerns and proposed criteria which look to be much more practical, as well as balancing the need for democratic oversight with the need for efficiency and professionalism in decision making.
We see strong and widespread support for compulsory training of councillors sitting on planning committees.
Click here to read our response in full Reform of planning committees consultation – response from The Housing Forum
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A Quality Home for All
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