The Prime Minister has returned this autumn telling all Government departments to focus on how their own areas can contribute to growth. The Department for Communities and Local Government is no exception and the planning changes announced last week signal a determination to see the development industry contribute to our country’s economic recovery.
Because of course it can do just that. Construction is one of the best ways to stimulate the economy: each £1 spent on construction generates a total of £2.84 in economic activity. The government recognises this and is making it easier to build more homes and indeed build on existing homes.
The first proposal to note concerns the much talked about Green Belt. As a Member of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee, I know only too well the furore surrounding the relationship between planning and the countryside. Only last year this very issue took up a great deal of time on the committee corridor with our inquiry into the NPPF. With the details of the final NPPF published earlier this year, critics came out in support of the finished article with the Government proving its commitment to the countryside. So we must not get bogged down again with more controversy about the Green Belt. The Chancellor’s announcement last week was common sense. Development should go ahead on the Green Belt if another equivalent area of land in the local area is added to the Green Belt. Former Green Belt is being swapped for new Green Belt. The net result being no reduction in the total Green Belt.
The other main reform to come out of recent announcements concerning construction revolves around permitted development rights. Home owners are to be allowed to build larger extensions on their houses, up to eight metres for detached homes and six for others. As a constituency MP a word of caution does need to be raised on this: conflicts can exist between neighbours and sometimes a neighbour’s objection to a proposal for an extension can be perfectly valid. The issue of housing extensions and development rights can be contentious but hopefully this short term move will provide some stimulus to the economy, especially to small builders at a time when work available for them has fallen.
And a final point to raise on recent announcements is the Prime Minister’s commitment to ‘cut through the bureaucracy that holds us back’. I have two cases in my constituency where this change can ensure construction and development can get underway. The power of so-called ‘Statutory Consultees’ has grown too large – often inhibiting local authorities from making a decision on planning permission until they have received approval from all necessary consultees. The Government has pledged to grapple with the issues that hold up development – including local opposition and planning inquiries. Their power needed to be curtailed to boost development and I am glad we are moving in that direction.
In short, recent announcements made regarding the housing sector and construction should be viewed entirely in the light of economic recovery. The government is rightly unashamed of its commitment to getting our country’s economy moving again and I am glad they acknowledge the importance housing and planning can play in this. I will always be a supporter of the role the planning system can play in delivering economic growth and look forward to seeing the impact of the recent changes.