Major campaign success as planning changes give more power to communities

The government has set out new measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which gives communities more say on local housing targets, as well as encouraging brownfield development and controlling short-term lets.

The Government has agreed to a number of planning reforms following pressure from backbench MPs:

• Making housing targets ‘advisory’, not mandatory.
• Ending 5 Year housing supply rules (where an up to date Local Plan is in place).
• More constraint on the housing numbers possible to reflect the existing character of an area.
• A review of the process for prioritising brownfield sites.
  

If these reforms are followed through into policy, this will be a huge win for CPRE, who has been campaigning and raising concerns over many years. Government has said the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) will be published for consultation by end of the year. 

For more detail, download the letter sent to all MPs by Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

Despite these very positive steps, there are still some concerns regarding the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. For example, the potential for the Secretary of State to alter national development management policies as he/she wishes, without consultation. So, some issues remaining for our local MPs to consider!