Recommendations & Conclusions
5 items
11
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
The development of brownfield sites should be prioritised and incentivised, and green spaces in the Green Belt should be protected. However, brownfield sites alone cannot deliver 300,000 net new homes per year in the long-term. In particular, the greater upfront cost of brownfield development means there is less capacity to …
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The development of brownfield sites should be prioritised and incentivised, and green spaces in the Green Belt should be protected. However, brownfield sites alone cannot deliver 300,000 net new homes per year in the long-term. In particular, the greater upfront cost of brownfield development means there is less capacity to deliver affordable housing on these sites.
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Government response AI summary
The government affirms its commitment to prioritizing brownfield development and protecting Green Belt land through existing national planning policy and financial support, stating that local authorities are not required to review Green Belt boundaries to meet housing needs.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
15
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
The Government plans to abolish the Duty to Cooperate without clearly setting out what it will be replaced with. This is despite the Government having agreed with our recommendation in a previous report that the Duty to Cooperate should not be abolished without a clear understanding of how it will …
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The Government plans to abolish the Duty to Cooperate without clearly setting out what it will be replaced with. This is despite the Government having agreed with our recommendation in a previous report that the Duty to Cooperate should not be abolished without a clear understanding of how it will be replaced with a new mechanism. By abolishing the Duty to Cooperate, the Government is removing another incentive for local authorities to meet their local housing need. The Government should instead be encouraging neighbouring local authorities to cooperate on housing delivery, particularly when planning development on their shared borders.
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Government response AI summary
The government clarifies that cooperation between local planning authorities will remain, stating it intends to retain joint local plans and introduce new joint spatial development strategies. It confirms that existing legal duties, including the duty to cooperate, will still apply, thereby addressing the committee's concern …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
17
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
There continues to be a pressing need for additional resources for local planning authorities to ensure the efficient working of the planning system and to implement the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government must ensure local planning authorities have the specialist skills required to implement proposed reforms. The programme of support …
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There continues to be a pressing need for additional resources for local planning authorities to ensure the efficient working of the planning system and to implement the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government must ensure local planning authorities have the specialist skills required to implement proposed reforms. The programme of support offered by the Department—including the measures outlined in correspondence from the Minister for Housing and Planning, and the letter from the Chief Planner to local authorities—does not constitute a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for the planning sector. This does not match the scale of the resourcing challenge which local planning authorities currently face.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the serious capacity and capability challenges faced by local planning authorities and has committed £37.5 million in additional funding, including a £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund, to recruit, retain, and upskill planners, alongside increasing planning application fees to provide further resources.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
18
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
The Government should publish a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for the planning sector, in line with its commitment to us. The strategy should clearly explain how the resourcing and skill needs of local planning authorities will be met; and should be published before future reforms to national planning policy …
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The Government should publish a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for the planning sector, in line with its commitment to us. The strategy should clearly explain how the resourcing and skill needs of local planning authorities will be met; and should be published before future reforms to national planning policy are implemented. (Paragraph 80) Infrastructure Levy
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Government response AI summary
The government has committed £37.5 million, including a £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund, to help local authorities recruit, retain, and upskill planners. They are also implementing planning fee increases and conducting a survey to understand skill needs, addressing the call for a resources and …
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
23
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
If the new IL falls short of delivering sufficient funding for local authorities to deliver at least as many affordable homes as the current regime, then the Government should make adjustments where appropriate as part of ‘test and learn’. Failing this, the Government should consider other ways of providing funding …
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If the new IL falls short of delivering sufficient funding for local authorities to deliver at least as many affordable homes as the current regime, then the Government should make adjustments where appropriate as part of ‘test and learn’. Failing this, the Government should consider other ways of providing funding to local authorities to make up the shortfall. (Paragraph 102) National Development Management Policies
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Government response AI summary
The government commits to a "Test and Learn" approach and further consultation on the Infrastructure Levy, supported by a parliamentary report on its impact, which will allow for scrutiny and necessary adjustments to ensure it delivers sufficient funding and affordable homes.
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Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government