Coalition confirms major planning system reform

18/05/10 3:46 pm By Nick Johnstone

The new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has today confirmed for the first time that it will push ahead with big changes to the planning system.

In a document called Building the Big Society, published by the Cabinet Office today, the government confirmed it would axe regional spatial strategies and would “return decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils”.

This confirms speculation that the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition will press ahead with the so-called “localism” agenda that is common to both parties.

Plans include scrapping regional spatial strategies and a comprehensive review of local government finance. However, it did not mention other changes that had been proposed by the Conservatives in the planning “green paper” such as abolishing the Community Infrastructure Levy and changing the Use Classes Order.

Prime minister David Cameron said: “Today is the start of a deep and serious reform agenda to take power away from politicians and give it to people. We know that when you give people and communities more power over their lives, more power to come together and work together to make life better – great things happen.”

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One Comment »

  • derrick brookes said:

    Hi what a waist of money asking for the baker report on the survey on house building, It was progress, some green belt is untidy parsels of land, wrongly assind green belt in 1937, it needed reviewing, we need houses, where are all the young homeless going to live, investigate the report as a new government and make your mind up then. not just because it was labours idea it may be good for the future of the homeless/ imigrants,and we have plenty of these, but no where for them to live. to throw it out so soon, is irrisposable and selfish, it not unreasonable to want a house,afterall most MP have two.

    yours, grandad of five, soon to need a home,not much chance, unless I die early perhaphs this will be made compulsary by the new condem gov.

    I did vote for lib.not conservative but roll on next election never again,

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