THE biggest shake-up to planning rules in more than 70 years was revealed in the Queen’s Speech today.
The speech by Queen Elizabeth officially opens Parliament for a fresh session and spells out Boris Johnson’s agenda for the next 12 months.
The government is set to overhaul the planning system regulations
Queen Elizabeth pictured during the Queen’s Speech in 2019
It’s one of the major events in the political year as the PM’s plans finally get earmarked to become laws.
The current planning system has hardly been touched since 1947, but the government now plans to replace it through the Planning Bill with reforms that have been brought forward.
The aim is to simplify planning for housing, making sure that homes and infrastructure can be delivered more quickly across England.
It comes as the government aims to create 300,000 new homes annually – more than the 192,725 homes being built currently.
Below we round up the key planning system changes, although more details are yet to be announced.
The bill will extend to the whole of the UK, although the majority of changes will only apply to England.
The Queen also announced:
- A lifetime deposit plan for renters
- A ban on ground rents in new-build leaseholds
- Fines for Facebook and Google if hate stays online
- New Education bill to bring jobs and skills to Red Wall voters
- A ban on gay conversion therapy
- Crackdown on junk food as government pledges war on obesity
1. Cut the planning system red tape
The Planning Bill aims to significantly cut the time it takes for developments to go through the planning system.
Under the current rules, it takes an average of five years for a “standard housing development” to go through.
In August, housing secretary Robert Jenrick proposed reforms that mean land designated for new homes, hospitals, schools, shops and offices will get automatic permission for firms to start building.
These types of properties will fall under the “for growth” category, meaning work will able to start on the land straight away.
The simplification of the rules would make it more difficult for existing homeowners to block new housing schemes.
Ahead of the speech, Jamie Johnson, chief executive of FJP Investment, said: “People will understandably be wary that if they live in one of the soon-to-be-designated “growth” zones, they could see green spaces built on and have their daily lives disrupted by major construction works.
“Yet at the same time, few would deny that the government must take action if the UK’s housing shortage is to be effectively addressed.
“Making it quicker and easier for housing projects to get the green light is an important part of that.”
2. Move to a digital service
The changes also include a move from a document-based planning system to a digital and map-based service.
The hope is that this will allow residents to be more engaged in the development of their local area.
At the moment, only 3% of locals engage with planning applications, according to the government.
3. Change local plans
The government also aims to change local plans so they provide more certainty over the type and design of development permitted.
This would include reforms for locally led development corporations to ensure local areas have access to support for growth and generation.
Mr Jenrick also wants small and medium-sized businesses to build a “substantial” chunk of the 300,000 properties due for construction each year.
They put up 40% of homes in the UK in 1990, but only 12% currently.
4. New frameworks for funding infrastructure
The bill is also set to create new frameworks for funding infrastructure, while at the same time assessing environmental impacts.
This has been made easier after the UK left the European Union.
Ahead of the Queen’s Speech, Julie Baratt, president of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH), said it welcomes “the aim to improve the current planning system”.
However, she added: “We have highlighted a number of serious concerns with the Government’s proposals as they currently stand.
“Whilst attempts to improve the efficiency of the planning system are commendable, it cannot be done through shutting out community engagement, by waiving through unsuitable conversions, or by encouraging inappropriate decisions by penalising local authorities.
“Most importantly, the health of future occupiers needs to feature more in the proposals.”
While Paresh Raja, chief executive of Market Financial Solutions, added: “Naturally, proper judgement must be reserved until the Bill is officially put forward and then duly debated.
“However, it is a move that could light the touch paper for the construction and housing sectors, spurring on a huge amount of investment in the real estate industry in the years ahead.
“And crucially, the end result ought to be many, many more affordable properties for would-be homebuyers.”
The Queen, 95, delivered her key-note address today in one of her first major engagements since the death of her husband, Prince Philip.
But the occasion was pared down over Covid, and only featured a few dozen people in the room with Her Majesty.
Ahead of the announcement, we explained everything set to be announced.
