Labour declares war on councils opposing housebuilding plans

Labour has declared war on local councils that try to resist its plans to build 1.5 million homes within five years.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook (main picture) told rebel local authorities the Government would take control of Local Plans in their areas if necessary.

We will not duck the hard choices that must be confronted in order to tackle the housing crisis.”

He warned councils: “Refusing to allow their communities, their residents, to shape development in the way that best suits them in a given area – we are willing to step in if that happens.”

The Labour Government “will not duck the hard choices that must be confronted in order to tackle the housing crisis”, he said.

A revised National Planning Policy Framework was published by the Government, with Pennycook defining ‘grey belt’ fit for development as disused car parks, abandoned petrol stations, or scrub land.

Kevin Hollinrake, Shadow Housing Secretary, said: “This planning framework pushes development to rural areas, concreting over green belt, green fields and over our green and pleasant land, rather than focusing and supporting building in urban areas where we need to build the most.”

Most of the new homes would be built for migrants rather than for British citizens, he added.

Pennycook accused Hollinrake of “scaremongering”. “He knows as well as I do that the majority of homes that developers sell in this country are to British nationals.”

Absolutely intent

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “But are we going to push it through if those plans don’t work? Yes, we absolutely are.

“Are we going to push away the planning rules and make them clearer, as we have done today, get away the blockers that are stopping the houses being built? Yes, we are absolutely intent.”

Last week, Yvonne Gagen, Leader of Labour-run West Lancashire Council, warned that some councils were on “a collision course” with the Government over “impossible and unrealistic” planning targets.

Industry reaction

Ian Barnett, National Land Director, Leaders Romans Group

“What a difference a year makes,” he says. “The NPPF changes announced today provide and new framework for the industry to work to and a flurry of activity on LinkedIn as everyone seeks to understand the key points and how they will affect their projects.

“There have been many grand announcements in my time in planning and development.  The priority has always been to build enough houses for the country’s population in the right places in a manner that protects the most valuable landscapes and environmentally sensitive areas.

“So are the latest announcements in any different to what we’ve all heard before?  On paper – yes absolutely.  The conviction and tone as well as the content (and indeed the fact it’s announced ahead of when most people expected!) does suggest that this time at least the Government is serious.”

Mike Osbourn, Carter Jonas

“There are some sensible general principles in there – consistency, speed and robustness of decision-making across the country is really important for the system to work effectively, and it definitely isn’t working like that presently,” he says.

“The proposed mandatory training of members of planning committees seems entirely sensible in that context. It strikes me bizarre that developments that are worth millions and affect the lives of countless people are determined by groups of people that may never have undertaken any form of training.

“That said, the form that training takes needs to be effective and also not a barrier to encouraging right minded individuals to put themselves forward to become councillors.

“The proposed change to the national scheme of delegation is a tricky one. On one hand it makes a lot of sense – for consistency, and also reducing the burden of sometimes unnecessarily bloated committee agendas. However, there’s a danger that if it is not done well, it risks unintended consequences for local communities and developments alike.

“My final observation is that there has to be an element of judgement in planning – compliance with local planning policies isn’t always black and white, and similarly local circumstances can (and do) change in ways that effect the merits of proposals, both positively and negatively. Committees do have a role to play in balancing that judgement, but it definitely needs work.

“I don’t think anyone wants a system that works quickly but poorly. But as someone who’s been doing this for more than 25 years, I think it’s reasonable to say that the current system is neither sufficiently quick nor effective at delivering the right outcomes, and probably in as bad shape as it’s ever been, so something has to change.”