Housing developers will be given automatic permission for developments under Boris Johnson’s shake-up of the planning system.
The PMs Build Build Build programme is aimed at simplifying and speeding up the current time it takes for developments to be put up.
At present it takes around five years for the typical development to finally get the planning go-ahead. Under the new rules that time will be reduced to three years.
And it’s not only housing developments that will find it easier to move through the local government planning system. Those constructing new schools and hospitals – as well as offices and shops – will also find, if not an open door, then one that is already very much half ajar.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick, writing in the Telegraph newspaper, said the Prime Minister was intent on creating “a simpler and faster planning system.”
From September it will be possible to change a town centre commercial building to residential use without the need for a planning application. Householders will also be able to ‘fast track’ applications for two further storeys onto their homes.
UK land – one of three new categories
Under the new reforms, UK land will be separated into three categories – either for growth, renewal or protection.
The automatic permission is for developments planned for the ‘growth’ category. Having received automatic permission, a development in the growth category will only get the go ahead if it fits with local development plans and eligible building types earmarked for the area.
The renewal category covers brownfield land and urban sites. There are plans for buildings to conform to an official ‘style book.’
Protected areas are current Green Belt land and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The three different categories of land are to be decided by individual local authorities and the communities that live there.
Despite the reduction in timescales for new developments to go through planning, there wouldn’t be a similar reduction in standards, insists the Housing Secretary. Every new street, he adds, will be tree-lined and minimum standards for design will be set.
Meanwhile, some government critics are sceptical over whether the proposals to secure planning permission will make much difference. Housing charity Shelter say that from 2011 to 2016 a total of 280,000 homes received permission but were never built.
Hannah Vickers, chief executive, Association for Consultancy & Engineering also added a word of caution. Saying it was more about ‘deliver, deliver, deliver’ than ‘build, build, build’ she added: “While we may wish to speed up programmes and projects, this won’t be possible without business confidence.”
Bringing planning proposals online
The planning system will also become digitalised under the new reforms. By this Jenrick means residents will be able to comment on planning proposals of their area via an online interactive map. Currently planning proposals are available via the council’s planning agenda, planning notices and by posters near the location.
