HCLG Committee ‘Unpersuaded’ That Planning Reforms Will Make System Quicker

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has published its first report on the future of the planning system in England. The report expressed concern over “the lack of detail” in the government’s vision for a new zonal planning system in England, which included proposals to split the planning system into three categories of development zones (growth, renewal and protected) and replacing Section 106 agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) with a single Infrastructure Levy. Read more on the Rural Services Network website.

https://www.rsnonline.org.uk/hclg-committee-unpersuaded-that-government-planning-reforms-will-make-system-quicker 

MP Slams 'Threat' To Affordable Housing

A rural MP has called on the government to drop a plan to limit new affordable homes being built in small communities. Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey (North Devon) asked for a serious re-think on a proposal to remove Section 106 planning obligations from developments of 10 dwellings or fewer. He made the plea in a letter to communities minister Penny Mordaunt. Section 106 planning obligations aim to encourage house building by removing obstacles for small developers. A decision by ministers on the proposal is said to be imminent. Mr Harvey said government figures had shown that two-thirds of homes in rural villages with fewer than 3000 people were delivered through the Section 106 agreement in 2012/13. Read more on the Rural Services Network website.