‘Conflicting’ planning reforms

THE Government is sending “conflicting signals” with its plans to reform house building, ministers have been warned.

Conservative former minister Dr Liam Fox said local councils needed “more realistic housing targets” set out in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, as previous targets could lead to overdevelopment.

Senior Tories joined Dr Fox in raising concerns about the planned new law, with former minister Theresa Villiers claiming the Government’s rhetoric on handing councils more power over planning decisions was not matched by its actions in the Bill.

The Bill is aimed at spreading opportunity across the UK, with reforms to the planning system in England aimed at making new developments more attractive, and to ensure developers fund new road links, schools, and surgeries.

The Government also plans to give councils new powers to regenerate empty high streets, including through compulsory purchase of empty shops, and it will create a legal duty for the Government to measure the success of its levelling up agenda over the rest of the decade.

But Dr Fox told the Commons the legislation needed to tackle “conflicting signals given by central government to local authorities when it comes to planning priorities”.

The MP for North Somerset said: “While overall housing target numbers are given, there are also simultaneous restrictions being put in place.”