The Government unveiled a package of measures to relax planning rules until 2015, specifically to increase permitted development rights for extensions to homes and business premises in non-protected areas without the need for planning permission.
Nick Clegg has confirmed that there will be a consultation on the decision.
At the same time Chancellor George Osborne has signalled plans to introduce new legislation which should help speed up planning decisions and the building of new infrastructure.
Speaking on Andrew Marr’s Sunday BBC TV programme he said the Government planned measures that would allow the administration to use its low interest rates to underwrite construction projects, including housing.
During the interview the Chancellor supported the ‘smart’ use of Green Belt designation to release more land for building.
Osborne also signalled new legislation designed to speed up the processing of planning applications. He said: ‘In the next couple of weeks we will introduce into Parliament new legislation to speed up the planning decisions and to speed up the processes that mean we can build roads more quickly.
‘I think we can speed up planning – it is absolutely ludicrous that it takes years to get planning decisions in this country. You can get much faster decisions on the Continent, let alone in countries like China. This country, in the current economic environment, cannot afford to wait years for development.’
On Green Belt he highlighted the power that exists which allows councils to release Green Belt land for development, which is then replaced by with other land newly classified as part of the Green Belt.
‘Cambridge has been smart at swapping Green Belt land,’ he said. ‘The powers exist but they are not that widely used. I would like to see more of that.’
For Nick Clegg’s statement on the consultation on the decision see: LINK
Search Planning Resource: LINK
Search Planning Portal: LINK
UK Parliament Housing and Growth Document: LINK
