New planning minister Lord Falconer is expected to spearhead the forthcoming shake-up of planning rules, tipped to be the most radical overhaul of the system in 50 years.
Ministers are keen to speed up the system and make it less prescriptive. A new two-speed application system will see smaller schemes, such as domestic extensions, fast-tracked through, while larger, strategic proposals will be dealt with by local government or the cabinet office.
Strategic planning will be more flexible. Local plans will be slimmed down and updated more regularly while detailed ones will be cascaded down to supplementary guidance. The government is expected to introduce stricter timetables and terms of reference for public inquiries and to reduce debate by having more robust national policy frameworks.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is expected to announce a review of criteria for listing buildings, with a view to limiting the number. The review will be included in an official statement on the historic environment that the DCMS is preparing in response to English Heritage's review Power of Place.
