Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Planning System Reform

Monday 19 July 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government's new permitted development rights have created 72,000 additional homes in recent years.
  • The planning Bill aims to modernise the planning system through digital transformation and changes to local housing need calculations.
  • Proposals include a national model design code to improve the quality of new developments.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Housing Environment
Context

The question arises from concerns over the government's planning reforms, particularly regarding permitted development rights that allow commercial buildings to be converted into residential properties without local council approval. This includes instances like Unity House in Luton South.

Question

I have just heard the Secretary of State talk about building beautiful homes. However, the Government's new permitted development rights will see more commercial buildings converted into small cramped flats in inappropriate locations, such as Unity House in Luton South, which bypassed important air quality regulations as it was converted under PDR. Will the Minister adopt measures set out in my ten-minute rule Bill last week that would allow local planning authorities to impose design standards on PDR applications to protect communities' health and wellbeing?

Answer from Christopher Pincher

Design codes will apply, including to PDRs. Thanks to PDRs, 72,000 additional homes have been created in the past several years, double what the Mayor of London has managed. Going forward, homes must meet quality design standards, space requirements, and lighting criteria. We are building needed homes on brownfield sites.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about adopting measures for local planning authorities to impose design standards on PDR applications, but the response did not directly commit to this.

How: I Am Obliged To The Hon. Lady

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Q2 Rachel Hopkins Lab Luton South and South Bedfordshire
Housing
Context

The question follows concerns over government planning reforms that permit more commercial buildings to be converted into residential properties without local council approval, raising issues about community health and wellbeing.

Question

What steps his Department is taking to reform the planning system. We are transforming the planning system through not only the recently announced changes but our proposals for ambitious long-term reforms. The planning Bill announced in the Gracious Speech will modernise our planning system, with simpler processes and a digital transformation. We have also published changes to the way local housing need is calculated, to enable more homes to come forward in our largest cities, where we need them most, and a national model design code, which will drive up the quality of new development.

Answer from Christopher Pincher

We are transforming the planning system through recent changes and long-term reforms announced in the Gracious Speech. The planning Bill will modernise processes digitally, change local housing need calculations for larger cities, publish a national model design code to improve new development quality.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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Q3 Ruth Cadbury Lab Brentford and Isleworth
Local Government
Context

Councillor Martin Tett, Conservative leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, warned that the planned changes to permitted development will harm high streets. He called for a pause in these reforms until local planning authorities can implement article 4 directions effectively.

Question

Therefore, will the Minister agree to Councillor Tett's request to pause these changes? What does he have to say to Councillor Tett and any other council leaders of all parties who oppose these highly unpopular planning reforms?

Answer from Christopher Pincher

We have already announced our proposals for article 4 directions, which remain a tool for local authorities if they wish to use them. We made appropriate changes to ensure brownfield development is possible where needed.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question specifically asked about pausing the changes until local authorities can implement article 4 directions effectively, but the response did not commit to this directly.

How: I Am Afraid That The Hon. Lady Is A Little Behind The Times

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