Housing Minister Rayner pledges planning reforms to end development chaos

London (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Housing Secretary Angela Rayner announced planning reforms, enabling Whitehall to approve developments without council committee input, provided they meet national and local standards. 

Under the new reforms, Whitehall will be able to fast-track developments that align with agreed local plans and national regulations without council committee approval.

While house builders have welcomed the proposed planning reforms, Conservatives have criticized Labour for “ignoring” the interests of local communities.

Angela Rayner, the UK’s deputy prime minister, speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, urged councils to “get your plans in order” to support the government’s 1.5 million new homes target.

The housing minister announced that the government will mandate all councils to formalize development plans, which have been a major factor in causing projects to “get stuck in the system.”

BBC reported that she said, “Rayner continued:

“Because we haven’t had these compulsory plans locally, we’ve seen speculative development where greenbelt land has been developed on… we’ve told councils they’ve got to have those plans.”

Ms. Rayner rejected claims that the Labour government was bypassing councils, stating that the reforms were necessary for achieving the biggest house-building expansion since the 1950s. 

Richard Fuller, the Tory shadow Treasury minister, called the government’s building target “reasonable,” but argued that Labour’s reforms risk ignoring local communities in pursuit of Angela Rayner’s strategy.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer recently reiterated his goal to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029, but admitted the target could be “a little too ambitious.”

Under the fast-track planning process, housing and infrastructure proposals, like schools, would be fast-tracked if they are in line with existing local development plans approved by councils.

According to government planning figures, from January to March 2024, only 19% of major applications were processed within the statutory time limits of 13 weeks, while only 38% of minor applications met the 8-week deadline. 

The Housing Minister confirmed that ministers have been instructed to direct infrastructure projects in areas where new housing developments are planned.

She said,

“Many people will say, ‘I don’t mind housing but we don’t have the roads, we’re already struggling to get a GP appointment’. Fixing those foundations at the same time is crucial to get the buy-in from those local areas.”

By imposing an inheritance tax on agricultural land, Labour has angered farmers, and the party needs to focus on gaining support outside urban areas to maintain its political influence. 

The Government is set to announce sweeping changes to the National Planning Policy Framework this week, following a consultation, alongside the ongoing reforms.

Ms Rayner said,

“Through our Planning and Infrastructure Bill, alongside new National Planning Policy Framework and mandatory housing targets, we are taking decisive steps to accelerate building, get spades in the ground and deliver the change communities need.”

According to the Local Government Association (LGA), the delays in housing building were not the cause of hold-ups, but because developers had failed to act on a million homes already approved by councils in their local strategies.

Adam Hug, housing spokesperson for the Local Government Association, insisted on the importance of local authorities and communities and said they must work together to tackle the housing crisis.

Mr. Hug added this could be achieved with

“new development supported by the infrastructure needed to make communities thrive and proper consultation and engagement that can help ensure local people can benefit.”

The Home Builders Federation (HBF) acknowledged that “democratic involvement and oversight of planning” is crucial but noted that it can be “very frustrating” for applicants when the principle of development is repeatedly debated.

Local government officials and housebuilding industry leaders believe that meeting the target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029 is unattainable. 

A Conservative spokesman argued that the government’s housebuilding target is unrealistic, as the OBR has already highlighted the budget constraints.

As reported by the Guardian, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner expressed support for the fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after rebels captured Damascus on Sunday morning. 

She told Sky News,

“The situation looks very serious. If Assad’s regime has fallen I welcome that news.”