Consultation on additional flexibilities to support housing delivery, the agricultural sector, businesses, high streets and open prisons; and a call for evidence on nature-based solutions, farm efficiency projects and diversification.
Planning
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities: Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities has launched a consultation seeking views on its proposed approach to updating to the National Planning Policy Framework.
Labour’s Rural England Policy Review
Launched in April 2021 and led by Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Luke Pollard MP, the Rural England Policy Review is seeking evidence on every aspect of rural life and the Labour Party’s rural policy strategy.
MHCLG: Planning for the Future
The Planning for the future consultation proposes reforms of the planning system to streamline and modernise the planning process, bring a new focus to design and sustainability, improve the system of developer contributions to infrastructure, and ensure more land is available for development where it is needed.
House of Commons MHCLG Select Committee: Permitted Development Rights
This inquiry is examining the Government’s recent and proposed changes to permitted development rights in respect of large-scale development, commercial-to-residential conversions and changes of use between different types of commercial and retail premises. In particular, the inquiry will explore their role in supporting economic growth and their impact on local authorities, including their ability to plan development holistically and the provision of services and homes.
Supporting housing delivery and public service infrastructure
This technical consultation seeks views on proposals for:
- a new permitted development right for a change of use to residential to create new homes
- measures to provide public service infrastructure more quickly through expanded permitted development rights and a new streamlined planning application process for hospitals, schools and prisons
- the approach to simplifying and consolidating existing permitted development rights following changes to the Use Classes Order
Department for Transport: Pavement parking: options for change
The Government is reviewing pavement parking regulations following a report from the House of Commons Transport Select Committee last year, which highlighted reported issues for local authorities in preventing parking from blocking pavements.
MHCLG: Planning reform: supporting the high street and increasing the delivery of new homes
The government is committed to simplifying and speeding up the planning system, to support the high street, make effective use of land and deliver more homes.
Building on existing planning reforms, the government is consulting on proposals that will allow greater change of use to support high streets to adapt and diversify, support extending existing buildings upwards to create additional homes, and speed up the delivery of new homes.
The consultation includes separate proposals in respect of:
HCLG Committee - High streets and town centres in 2030 inquiry launched
The House of Commons Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has launched an inquiry looking at the future of England's high streets and town centres in 2030.
MHCLG – Draft Revised National Planning Policy Framework
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has opened a consultation on the draft revised National Planning Policy Framework