Overview

The Local Planning and Housing Bill aims to streamline local planning procedures in England and Wales, increase housing supply, and clarify regulations around sustainable development. It seeks to achieve this by amending existing planning legislation and introducing new requirements for local authorities and developers.

Description

The bill makes several key changes to existing planning laws:

• Local and Neighbourhood Plans: It restricts the grounds for appealing against Local and Neighbourhood Plans, limiting challenges to the period of public inspection and imposing a five-year moratorium on challenges after adoption. It also prevents consideration of planning applications conflicting with a plan during its consultation period.
• Housing Supply: Local authorities must consider factors like historical trends and economic growth when forecasting housing needs and are only permitted to consider new housing applications when there is no existing housing stock. The bill also mandates regulations for calculating the five-year housing land supply.
• Local Development Orders: The bill adds a requirement for Local Development Orders to include a detailed evidence base justifying the proposed housing type.
• Affordable Housing: The bill repeals Section 7 of the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013, which allowed modifications or discharges of affordable housing requirements.
• Land Banking: All work on an approved site must be completed before permission is granted for further development on that site.
• Duration of Planning Permission: The duration of planning permission is reduced from three years to nine months.
• Greenfield/Green Belt/Brownfield Development: Planning permission for greenfield and green belt sites is prohibited unless all suitable brownfield land is developed first. The Secretary of State will define "greenfield" and "brownfield".
• Sustainable Housing Development: The Secretary of State will define "sustainable housing development," incorporating criteria like local job availability and adequate infrastructure (leisure, education, health, transport, roads).
• Appeals: The bill mandates a review of the Planning Inspectorate's role in handling appeals.

Government Spending

The bill doesn't directly specify a cost or saving but will likely incur costs associated with the review of the Planning Inspectorate and the development and implementation of new regulations. Precise figures are unavailable from the provided text.

Groups Affected

• Local Authorities: Face new requirements for planning applications, housing supply forecasts, and Local Development Orders. May experience increased workload related to the new regulations.
• Developers: Subject to stricter rules on greenfield development, land banking, and the duration of planning permission. The definition of sustainable development could affect project viability.
• Residents/Communities: May see changes in local planning processes and the types and location of new housing developments. The bill's impact on housing supply could affect affordability and availability.
• Planning Inspectorate: Will undergo a review of its operations.

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