Planning by Committee?

Just like a bus, you wait to have your say and then two opportunities come along.

Whilst the consultation deadline for the ‘Planning for the Future’ White Paper may have closed last week, and we await the Government’s response with interest, those who love to have their say on the future of the planning system will be glad to hear that a Commons Select Committee has been convened to hear the further thoughts of the public on the housing and land use planning system in England.

Whether you have recently experienced the planning system in all its glory when seeking permission for an extension to your home, replying to local consultations, or been tussling with HS2, MPs on the House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee want to hear from you.

The Parliament website states:

“The inquiry will examine how well the proposed reforms [as set out in the White Paper] would  support the Government’s wider building strategy, including its target to build 300,000 new homes a year, as well as ensuring high quality construction that is fit for purpose”.

An online survey has been launched inviting respondents “to set out how they have used the planning system in the past and ways in which it could be improved in the future”. The survey should only take 10 minutes to complete and closes at 11:59pm on Wednesday 11^th November. So, there isn’t long to get to put your views across.

Here is where you can have your say - What is your experience of planning in England?

A virtual public engagement event is scheduled for Thursday 26^th November and should you wish to participate during the discussion, you can indicate this on your survey.

Whilst many have now commented on the formal Government consultation on the proposed planning reforms, this is an opportunity to let them know what you think works or does not work in the current system. It will certainly be interesting to listen to the discussions that take place at this engagement event and subsequent committee sessions; it can’t only be us professionals in the Sector that see some gremlins in the system.

As we have reported in recent weeks, the Government has presented fundamental changes to the planning system with much of the detail still to come forward. These radical proposed changes have inevitably resulted in heated debate across the political board. This further form of public engagement and scrutiny will raise more questions regarding the Government’s plans which will not quicken the process of any legislation or actual changes coming forward.

If you have further comments on the broader housing and land use planning system in England, or examples of your experiences grappling with the current system, do have your say and make your points heard in this consultation. I’m sure we will.