We respond to announcements on small housebuilders and planning committees

The government has announced an anticipated consultation on planning committees alongside plans to support smaller and medium-sized housebuilders by ‘streamlining’ planning rules. CPRE’s Head of Policy and Planning, Paul Miner, responds.

On the government ‘backing SME builders’ to get Britain building:

‘We welcome the government’s recognition that small and medium-sized (SME) builders have a key role to play in delivering the homes people need. Diversifying the housing market is long overdue – and supporting smaller housebuilders could help inject much-needed quality, innovation and local knowledge into new development.

‘But speeding up planning processes alone won’t solve the housing crisis – and risks repeating the mistakes of the past if it leads to poorly located or unaffordable homes.

‘We urge government to go further by embracing a more strategic, locally-led approach to development. As the Letwin Review recommended, a more effective long-term solution is for local authorities to masterplan large new developments and apportion sites to local builders. This could create much more sustainable, connected and varied places to live than the soulless estates we’re used to.’

On a new technical consultation on planning committees:

‘This is a promising sign that the government recognises the importance of local democracy in planning. Planning committees play a critical role in ensuring people can have a say about projects which significantly affect their area.

‘However we still have major concerns about these plans as set out in our briefing last week. Too often in recent years we have seen large developers renege on promises made to local communities with regard to funding for local public services and affordable housing. We urge the government to protect the role of planning committees in locally significant cases, as well as hold large developers to account who are ultimately responsible for the painful delivery of new homes – and not local people.’