Agenda item

The Chairman welcomed Simon Gallagher, Director of Planning for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) who gave a summary of aims of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill which included:

·        Moving towards a plan led system and away from a speculative development led system which would make it easier for local authorities to be in control.

·        Working with communities and incentivising them to want development.

·        Modernising the planning service through better digital services.

·        Maintaining a regular system of communication to engage with local authorities.

Members made the following comments:

• The proposals were welcomed compared to previous years.
• It was queried when councils would be able to have access to infrastructure levy funding. 
• National policy seemed to continue to take precedence over local policy which sometimes did not fit local circumstances.
• Permitted development rights had been impeding on local communities and local authorities’ ability to have a say and be strategic in developments.
• It was queried what the benefits of a legal requirement for councils to produce design codes.
• There were concerns at implementing the Biodiversity Net Gain and if £4 million of funding to support councils would be enough to resource this.
• The nutrient and neutrality issues which were preventing development of housing seemed to clash with the planning reforms.

In response, Simon Gallagher made the following comments:

• The need to receive the infrastructure levy funding early was recognised as an integral part of development.
• It was hoped that national development management policies would reflect what was already in local plans which would enable local authorities to focus on local concerns and this would be communicated further.
• Permitted development rights were in place to prevent having to wait for long term regeneration schemes and allow quick adaptation.
• Design codes were introduced as many councils were producing their own supplementary plans which had no legal force, under the reforms there would be legally binding design codes Design codes.
• Not just generalist skills of core planning officers were important, but specialists in environment were an important part of the process.
• DLUHC were aware of the problem with nutrients and neutrality for development and had been working collaboratively with Natural England.

The Chairman thanked Simon Gallagher for his attendance.

Decision:

Members noted the report.