Government planning update: a more streamlined process for rural housing
In a step in the right direction to simplify the planning process, the UK Government stated its proposals for small and medium sized housing developments
The UK Government announced today its intention to streamline the planning process by enabling small and medium sized enterprises to build more swiftly on sites of fewer than 50 properties.
In the proposals, small developments under nine properties will have decisions made by planning officials and not committees, making it a more simplified process. A new medium site category on developments of ten to 49 homes with simpler regulations for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and a proposed exemption from the Building Safety Levy.
The government has published a new working paper on planning thresholds for small and medium housing sites, and also launched a consultation reviewing BNG for minor, medium and brownfield development. The CLA will be responding to these papers.
CLA President Victoria Vyvyan commented:
“Earlier this year, we revealed nearly half of rural councils are sitting on planning applications more than five years old. That’s not just a backlog - it’s proof the countryside is being treated like a museum.
“Today’s proposal is a step towards fixing this – and reflects reforms we’ve championed for years. Streamlining section 106 will cut costs and delays. And uplifting permission in principle will help deliver what rural communities really need: a small number of homes across a large amount of villages.
“But if the government is serious about rural growth, it must go further. Permission in Principle must extend beyond homes to the businesses that keep the countryside alive. And a Rural Exception Site Planning Passport is desperately needed to derisk and speed up the system."
Labour is hunting for economic growth, but the opportunity is right here. Let’s clear the backlogs and create a planning system that powers rural growth