Another Day, Another Planning Reform Release

Another day, another Planning Reform release! This one is worth a read if you work on smaller housing estates of up to 50 units. 🏠 

Reducing the burden of planning conditions on small developments would speed up the process for one-off and self-build projects.

MHCLG is proposing to streamline planning requirements for smaller sites. There's not an official consultation for this, but they're looking for feedback anyway - response deadline is July 23rd:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/planning-reform-working-paper-reforming-site-thresholds

Proposal:

We currently have a two-tiered planning system. A small application is less than 10 dwellings. Everything else is classed as a Major Application.

The proposal is to create a third tier, making planning less of a burden for smaller sites:

🏠 Small and Minor Residential

Fewer than 10 homes and up to half a hectare

Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements will be streamlined, or possibly removed. No requirement for affordable housing, no Build Out Transparency (see previous post), and no Building Safety Levy.

🏠 🏡 Medium Residential

Between 10 & 49 homes

BNG would be simplified, Section 106 requirements would be streamlined. Possible exemption from Building Safety Levy and exemption from Build-Out Transparency.

🏙️ 🏗️ Major

50+, or anything larger than a hectare

Existing rules apply.

🧱 There could also be a fourth tier for very small works. That's mentioned in the document, but no info provided.

They also want to create a National Scheme of Delegation - this decides whether an application is dealt with by committee or by an individual officer. This decision is currently made by each individual councils, and varies from region to region.

Under the proposals, a Tier A application would be dealt with by a planning officer. That covers all small and minor applications, Reserved Matters and approval of conditions. That rule would be the same wherever you are in England.

Also in this proposal is a plan to require all members of planning committees to be trained about basic planning principles, and to allow Government to set limits on the size of planning committees.

As with my previous post about Build Out Schedules, this isn't going to fix all our problems with housebuilding or the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), but it's another step in the right direction.