Planning green paper, set to be launched next week, will lay out 鈥榩ro-sustainable building鈥� policy

The Conservative party is to put a 鈥減resumption in favour of sustainable development鈥� at the heart of its reform of the planning system.

The change is likely to make it easier for projects to win planning permission, and may go some way to reassure developers and housebuilders concerned that the Tories鈥� localism agenda will stymie development.

It is the most eye-catching of the measures that are being prepared for the party鈥檚 planning green paper (see box). Tory sources said the document was to have been published on Monday but said it could be delayed.

In an interview with 好色先生TV, shadow housing minister Grant Shapps said: 鈥淵es [there will be a presumption in favour of development] unless a council has written in its plan, 鈥榃e won鈥檛 have any building here,鈥� having carried out a proper assessment of needs.鈥�

He added that the presumption would include thresholds to ensure design quality and sustainability.

He added: 鈥淲e鈥檙e saying we鈥檒l reform the planning system to make it more pro-sustainable development. This is pretty good news for your readers.鈥�

Ian Tant, senior partner at planning consultant Barton Willmore, said: 鈥淭his is a completely different approach to the current system, and gives a basis upon which appeals can be fought by developers. The only caveat is that the word 鈥榮ustainable鈥� could give huge scope for argument.鈥�

Other likely proposals

  • Abolition of centralised housing targets and proposal for Local Authority and Housing Bill in early days of Tory administration
  • Introduction of 鈥渢hird party right to appeal鈥�
  • Requirement for councils to update 鈥渟implified鈥� local development frameworks within 18 months
  • Winding in of Infrastructure Planning Commission to Planning Inspectorate, passing decisions about major projects to ministers
  • Alter government鈥檚 proposed Community Infrastructure Levy and the way section 106 operates

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