Planning process to be overhauled in bid to accelerate housebuilding

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has set out plans to speed up the planning process and overhaul local planning committees as part of measures to accelerate housebuilding and stimulate economic growth.

Proposals will allow for applications that comply with local development plans to bypass local authority planning committees entirely. Local planning officers will also gain an enhanced decision-making role to implement agreed planning policy, while councillors will need to undergo mandatory training before sitting on planning committees.

The changes aim to offer greater certainty to housebuilders that good-quality schemes in keeping with local development plans can get timely approval to move forward. They come ahead of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) that are also set to be announced this week following a consultation in July.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said: 

“Building more homes and infrastructure across the country means unblocking the clogged-up planning system that serves as a chokehold on growth. The government will deliver a sweeping overhaul of the creaking local planning committee system.

“Streamlining the approvals process by modernising local planning committees means tackling the chronic uncertainty and damaging delays that acts as a drag anchor on building the homes people desperately need.

“Grasping the nettle of planning committee reform and fast-tracking decision-making is a vital part of our Plan for Change. Building 1.5 million homes over five years means tackling the housing crisis we inherited head-on with bold action.

“Through our Planning and Infrastructure Bill, alongside new National Planning Policy Framework and mandatory housing targets, we are taking decisive steps to accelerate building, get spades in the ground and deliver the change communities need.” 

Dr Victoria Hills, Chief Executive of the Royal Town Planning Institute, said:

“It’s encouraging to see the government explore these options in such an open way. These are the right questions to ask, and it is good that the government is prioritising collaboration, transparency, and consistency. By empowering qualified planners to implement planning policies, locally elected councillors will have the time to focus on the more significant cases, effectively speeding up the planning process and reducing unnecessary delays.”

“By requiring councillors to undergo appropriate training before joining planning committees, we can ensure planning decisions are made for the greater good of the communities while aligning with national policies. We would look forward to supporting this programme.”