Speculation that ministers have dropped plans to introduce 鈥榸onal鈥� system and binding housing targets
Countryside campaigners have welcomed reports that the government is to abandon major elements of its proposed planning reform package.
The Times on Saturday reported that the two most controversial parts of the reform package 鈥� plans for mandatory local housing targets set by central government, and the introduction of a 鈥榸onal鈥� system under which all land is classified for growth, renewal, or protection 鈥� are to be dropped.
The paper, without citing sources, said this meant the biggest shake-up of planning laws for 70 years is 鈥渟et to be abandoned鈥�, with a 鈥渁 more limited set of changes鈥� instead introduced.
Last week housing secretary Robert Jenrick told a housing conference that the government鈥檚 response to its consultation on the measures would be announced 鈥渟hortly鈥�.
Under the original proposals, contained in last year鈥檚 Planning for Future white paper, areas zoned by councils for 鈥済rowth鈥� would be granted outline planning permission, with planning authorities given just 30 months to prepare stripped back local plans.
The government also said that the standard method formula which is currently used to determine local housing need 鈥� already dubbed a mutant algorithm by critics prior to it being amended in the face of a backbench Tory rebellion last autumn 鈥� would be further reformed, to become a mandatory housing target for every local authority. Currently councils just have to use the figure to prepare their local plans but can depart from it if they can justify this with local evidence.
Reacting to the reports, Tom Fyans, deputy chief executive of countryside charity CPRE, said it appeared that the most damaging parts of the reforms 鈥渉ave been rightly binned鈥�, and that the change of track was 鈥渁 victory for common sense鈥� and for campaigners who 鈥渏ust wanted a proper say on the needs of their communities and how their area should be developed鈥�.
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The housing ministry has refused to comment on the story, but the summary of the reforms given by Jenrick in two set piece speeches last week did not include references to either the zonal system 鈥� which had been the heart of the original package 鈥� or the mandatory housing target.
A senior advisor to the government on planning reform, Nicholas Boys Smith, said in response to the story that 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure this article is actually saying that much that justifies the headline鈥�.
He said in a tweet that 鈥淎 lot of excellent important changes have already happened in the new and and we鈥檒l have to wait & see on 鈥�.
The news follows intense speculation over the future of the reform package following the Conservative Party鈥檚 shock defeat in the Chesham and Amersham by-election, which was largely seen as in part caused by disquiet over the reforms.
Jenrick has already admitted that one part of the package 鈥� a new national Infrastructure Levy 鈥� will be able to be set locally, and told council leaders in July that .
When the reforms were launched last summer, Boris Johnson described the planning system as 鈥渂roken鈥�, adding his aim was about 鈥渓evelling the foundations and building, from the ground up, a whole new planning system鈥�.
The news was met with dismay by some campaigning for planning reform. Jamie Sullivan, director at planning consultant Iceni, said on Twitter: 鈥淪o they will spend their political capital on a tax rise which breaks a manifesto promise, but they have bottled it on planning reform? I just can鈥檛 ever see the system changing in a meaningful way.鈥�
An MHCLG spokesperson said: 鈥淲e will not comment on speculation. Our response to the consultation will be released in due course.鈥�
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