The Planning and Infrastructure Bill contains some very interesting proposals for local authorities, with measures that will change how our sector manages, funds and executes planning across the region. Today, LGE calls on regional MPs to make the following points clear to government. To make sure the Bill is as effective as possible, we call for:
- Viability assessments as transparent as possible.
- Consideration of financial penalties for slow build out of homes.
- The publication of clear guidance around Spatial Development Strategies for those local authorities currently going through the local plan process.
- Structured and regular engagement between all local stakeholders in an area, including local authorities, ICBs and NHS trusts.
- Further guidance and support for the new powers for councils to claim cost recovery through planning fees, including extent, ability to cover the local plan creation process, ability to collaborate across authority boundaries, and the setting of well-structured fee regimes.
- Further clarification around the new governance arrangements for planning, and a continuation of the important work undertaken by Planning Committees.