A summary and analysis of 'Planning for the Future' in the CPRE South East eBulletin

The August 2020 Issue of the independently compiled and written CPRE South East eBulletin is now out, with a main focus on ‘Planning for the Future’, the government’s White Paper on planning reforms.

It also covers a technical consultation issued by the government that has slipped down the agenda but shouldn’t be ignored. This proposes to change ‘the standard method for calculating housing targets for councils and increasing the amount of affordable housing for sale’. Why is this important? This latter technical consultation is likely to come into effect, before the White Paper and any of its amendments, become law.

The bulletin is a fantastically useful summary and explanation of what is being proposed in the White Paper, and of the ‘quick fix’ change in the ‘standard method’. Remember, you can respond to the consultation, which closes on 29 October 2020. Bulletin highlights include:

• An introductory overview of the White Paper
• A succinct description of each of the 24 proposals in the White Paper
• Growth, Renewal, Protection – a closer look at the three designations that all land in England will be given, and what that means
• A reaction round up from CPRE at national and county level plus others such as the Wildlife Trusts, the Woodland Trust, the UK Green Building Council, Friends of the Earth, The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), the National Housing Federation (NHF) and the Local Government Association
• A concluding commentary on the technical consultation and its short-term fix to drive up housing numbers, including proposals for an extension to PiP – Permission in Principle introduced in June 2018; the government’s First Homes scheme – which replaces the unsuccessful Starter Homes scheme; increasing the developer threshold for including affordable homes in housing schemes; new overall housing targets which will substantially affect the south east; concluding with changes in Use classes and Permitted Development Rights.

You can read the full bulletin here