A number of news pieces have emerged reporting that councils will lose the ability to block large housing developments of more than 150 homes (e.g. https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/councils-lose-ability-block-large-housing-developments-5HjdMtf_2/and https://www.ft.com/content/e14f9e40-d905-4cfb-933f-adac04fa989c).
In addition, councils will be required to notify the Housing Secretary of any development over 150 homes that they intend to refuse, giving the minister an opportunity to intervene and potentially overturn the decision.
The changes are expected to reduce red tape, lower taxes on housebuilding and cut regulatory costs, with the aim of making more sites viable and increasing housing supply.
Steve Reed, the Housing Secretary, has also announced that further changes to the National Planning Policy Framework will be brought forward later this year.
Separately, Reed has instructed MPs to vote against environmental protections (Housing secretary tells Labour MPs to vote down planning bill amendment | Planning policy | The Gua… and Government strips protections from the Planning and Infrastructure Bill – CPRE), and the Government has removed several safeguards from the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which will have significant implications for the countryside and nature.
So, with Sport England’s role as a consultee potentially being removed, councils having limited planning powers, and the possible loss of CIL and Section 106 in London, we may need to rethink how we support Londoners to be active. It appears that a much greater focus on non-traditional spaces may be required…