Since the Coalition Agreement, major reforms to the planning system have taken place with the introduction of the Localism Act 2011 and the National Planning Policy Framework.
The Government has stressed that the planning system should work proactively to support economic growth and it is still concerned that various aspects of the planning system are burdened by “unnecessary bureaucracy that can hinder sustainable growth.” A number of reforms are now contained in the Growth and Infrastructure Act 2013 and include:
• allowing planning applications to be decided by the Planning Inspectorate, if the local authority has a track record of consistently poor performance; and
• allowing for planning obligations (section 106 agreements) relating to affordable housing to be renegotiated to make a development economically viable again.
A number of other announcements on planning reform have also been made, which do not have provisions in the Act, including:
• to publish new planning guidance in relation to applications for renewable energy installations, particularly onshore wind turbines;
• to increase existing permitted development rights for extensions to homes and business premises, in non protected areas, for a three-year period;
• to increase existing permitted development for certain telecommunications equipment, such as masts and antenna; and
• to make reforms to the operation of the community infrastructure levy.
This note sets out more information about the key planning reform announcements and the proposals. Most of the proposals apply to England only.
For further information about proposals to stimulate housing supply see Library standard note, Stimulating housing supply.