Planning Bill
Background to the Bill:
Implementing proposals of the planning white paper, the Bill will streamline and improve the planning regime. It includes provisions to introduce a single consents regime for major infrastructure projects and improve the town and country planning system. The Bill also includes a new statutory planning charge to enable councils to capture greater levels of planning gain to support new infrastructure and housing.
The Bill is based on recommendations of two well-respected studies; the Barker and Eddington reviews. It is also important for the implementation of government policy on housing, energy and transport and so had its second reading debate early in the current parliamentary session on December 10, 2007.
The Bill will provide three opportunities for public involvement when a national policy statement is drawn up, before developers submit their planning application they will have to consult, and when the inquiry actually takes place.
The Bill will also set up a new independent infrastructure planning commission. It will simplify the planning system for minor home improvements.
The Opposition agree that the planning system needs reform, however, some MPs argue that the Bill will increase the democratic deficit of the planning system. Critics argue that the public have been sidelined so that the government can fast track the implementation of energy and transport projects, which may have a detrimental impact on the environment.
More recently, the government has reached an agreement with some Labour MPs who want to retain a ministerial element to the decision making process. There will be a review of the IPC after two years, at which point ministers may regain some responsibilities.