The new planning appeal process is expected to begin by the end of this year, streamlining decision-making to expedite appeal decisions
Under the new process, the majority of written representation appeals will accept only the evidence put before the local planning authority during application.
Applications will be encouraged to provide a full body of evidence at the application stage, speeding up appeals and ensuring local authorities have all the information they need from the beginning to make decisions.
This is intended to benefit developers, local councils, and communities in their construction decisions.
It will also make planning decisions more local, reducing the red tape that developers will need to cut through. If done the intended way, evidence will only need to be submitted once.
Paul Morrison, planning inspectorate CEO, said: “Every delayed planning decision represents potential delays to development and uncertainty for local communities. This change is a common-sense approach to planning that benefits us all by removing unnecessary administrative burdens and focusing on what matters: well-informed, timely decisions based on high-quality applications from the start.”
The latest change to the planning system
The last 12 months have seen several large changes to the planning system, with reforms being put in place to speed up the delivery of housing and infrastructure.
In April, an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill saw the scrapping of statutory consultation requirements for major infrastructure projects, potentially saving a year in delivery times for new roads, railways, windfarms, and more.
At the time, deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner said: “Critical national infrastructure is key to Britain’s future and security – so we can’t afford to have projects held up by tiresome requirements and uncertainty, caused by a system that is not working for communities or developers and holding back our true potential.
“We are strengthening the Planning and Infrastructure Bill to make sure we can lead the world again with new roads, railways, and energy infrastructure as part of the Plan for Change, whilst ensuring local people still have a say in our journey to get Britain building.”
In December last year, a large planning overhaul was set out, with aspects including:
Areas with the highest housing unaffordability and the greatest growth potential will see increased housing targets, along with more action to ensure councils create or update and maintain local plans that are best suited for their community
A “common-sense” approach will be taken for greenbelt developments. While brownfield developments will keep priority, greenbelt boundaries will be reviewed, and greybelt land will also be prioritised
Greenbelt land will also have strict requirements through new “golden rules,” requiring developers to be able to demonstrate the necessary infrastructure for local communities, i.e. GP surgeries, local transport, nurseries, as well as social and affordable housing
Councils and developers will also need to give more consideration to social rent when housebuilding, and local leaders will have more power in building affordable homes for the people that need them.
Updates on the latest planning application appeals process can be found here.
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