A new panel of experts have been brought together to help streamline the Local Plan-making process…
Planning Minister Brandon Lewis has brought together eight experts to consider how the process of development can be sped up.
Local Plans aim to give communities more say in how their area will develop. Around 276 local authorities have published Local Plans, with around 216 adopted. This means more than a third have yet to implement their plans.
The aim of the Local Plan is to provide communities with greater certainty regarding plans for new homes and infrastructure in their area while speeding up the planning process to enable development to get underway more quickly.
The panel will look at ways of streamlining this process.
The experts are as follows:
- Chair John Rhodes of planning consultants Quod
- Adrian Penfold from developers British Land
- Richard Harwood QC from legal firm 39 Essex Chambers
- Councillor Toby Elliott from Swindon Borough Council
- Keith Holland, a retired Senior Planning Inspector
- Liz Peace, formerly of the British Property Federation
- John Howell MP, member for Henley
- Derek Stebbing, Local Authority Plans Manager for Chelmsford City Council
Speaking of the appointments, Lewis said: “Our planning reforms have caught the imagination of communities across the country, allowing them to bring forward developments that are a real benefit to local people.
“However, while many have seized this opportunity, it’s fair to say the process of getting Local Plans in place can sometimes be lengthy and complicated.
“That’s why we’ve brought together this panel of experts to help look at ways to streamline the process. Their first-class advice will help councils push on and deliver the homes and infrastructure that their communities need.”
The group will look at any aspect of the Local Plan-making process that they deem necessary or relevant. They will report back with their findings in the New Year.