Government announces wave of last-minute reforms to planning bill

Late on Monday night, the government announced a raft of last-minute amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

The amendments raise questions, including new powers for ministers to overrule local planning decisions and proposals to reduce Natural England’s oversight on more ‘minor’ developments.

However, we’re concerned about the continued rhetoric from government. Ministers are speaking of ‘tearing up red tape’ and ‘removing obstacles’ and taking an increasingly bullish approach which is showing little respect for scrutiny, transparency and meaningful engagement.

The housing crisis is being driven by bad policy and a broken market which for too long has been dominated by big housebuilders, who have been trickling out expensive homes and hoarding land. Meanwhile, we continue to fall desperately short of delivering affordable and social rent homes, and brownfield for 1.4 million homes sits dormant.

As one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, it’s both critical and entirely possible to build the homes we need without harming wildlife, and allowing communities the opportunity to shape what happens in their area is a central part of planning democracy. The government’s approach risks valuing the voices of investors and big developers over ordinary people and nature.

We’re calling for a joined-up and grown-up conversation about the future of the planning system. A planning system that values both nature and people, and builds trust rather than division.

CPRE will keep pressing for a planning system that’s democratic, evidence-based, and genuinely sustainable – because that’s the only way to deliver the homes and energy we need without losing the countryside we all depend on.