The Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) has published a summary of political developments last week that provided the biggest indication yet of the new government’s thinking on the English planning system.
On Wednesday, Chancellor Rishi Sunak outlined a range of spending commitments on infrastructure and a £12 billion affordable housing programme, plus the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority in West Yorkshire with spatial planning powers.
The following day, Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick announced plans to put good design and place-making at the heart of a reformed planning system, plus a proposal to extend the use of permitted development rights.
The RTPI’s downloadable summary divides the key proposals into a range of categories including housing, design, transport, climate, devolution and the high street, and also provides details of the RTPI’s initial response.
The summary was prepared by RTPI England Policy Officer Max Tolley. He said: “We hope this document proves useful to our members who were no doubt watching the various announcements last week with great interest.
“The RTPI is ready to engage on the detail of these matters through the anticipated consultations over the coming weeks and months. We will announce further details when we have them and will call on members to share their expertise.”
