Responses to government consultations
The Government, through the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), has consulted on several documents since autumn 2020.
Changes to the current planning system
The first is called changes to the current planning system (August 2020).
This consultation document proposes four main changes to the current planning system:
- changes to the standard method for assessing local housing need
- securing of First Homes through developer contributions in the short term until the transition to a new system
- temporarily lifting the small sites threshold below which developers do not need to contribute to affordable housing
- extending the current Permission in Principle to major development
The window for making representations on this document closed on 1 October 2020.
The response made by the Council is available to view below:
Planning for the future - white paper
MHCLG also consulted on proposed wholesale changes to the national planning system.
Further information is available on the GOV.UK planning for the future webpage.
The window for making representations on this document closed on 29 October 2020.
The response made by the Council is available to view below:
Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure
MHCLG also consulted on proposed changes to permitted development rights.
The consultation proposed three new changes to permitted development rights:
- A new permitted right allowing buildings to change from Commercial Use Class E to Residential;
- Amending the existing Class M permitted development right to allow for schools, colleges, universities and hospitals to expand; and
- The consolidation and simplification of existing permitted development rights.
Further information is available on the GOV.UK Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure webpage.
The window for making representations on this document closed on 28 January 2021.
The response made by the Council is available to view below: