Planning Reform: Fiscal Steps

Alice Macdonald, the Labour/Co-op MP for Norwich North, asked the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones, what fiscal steps the government is taking with Cabinet colleagues to reform the planning system. In response, Darren Jones stated that the government has committed to delivering 1.5 million new homes as part of their mission to achieve economic growth across the country. He noted that the government has already announced reforms to national planning policy, including the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets and the removal of the effective ban on onshore wind in England. Alice Macdonald followed up, highlighting the Anglia Square site in her colleague Clive Lewis' constituency of Norwich South, which could provide over 1,000 homes and many jobs if unlocked. She asked what local authorities like Norwich City Council can expect from the government's approach to delivering brownfield sites with partners. Darren Jones responded that the government takes seriously its target to deliver 1.5 million new homes, and will look at every opportunity across the country to do so, including making improvements to the system of developer contributions for community benefit to support the delivery of affordable housing and local infrastructure. Andrew George, the Liberal Democrat MP for St Ives, then intervened, noting that the planning system is built on the ability to make millionaires at the stroke of a pen as a result of passing planning permission, which does not necessarily result in developments that are in the best interests of the local community. He asked the Minister what more the government can do to ensure that the planning system is tipped towards meeting need, rather than greed. Darren Jones acknowledged the issue of "hope value" referenced in the Labour party's manifesto, and stated that the government will set out further detail on this in due course.