The Smith Institute’s Housing and planning: what makes the difference? report, published today, found both planners and developers agreed more resources would allow council officers to play a more active role in schemes’ progress. The report was based on interviews with both groups.
Publishing the research, Paul Hackett, director at the Smith Institute, said: ‘The reality on the ground is that fast-tracking new homes demands a properly resourced, professional local planning system. Cutting back resources for planning might go down well politically but is holding back much-needed development.’
Both planners and developers were also concerned that neighbourhood planning – which gives citizens more control over planning decisions – could slow down or threaten housing developments.
However, there was support for the community infrastructure levy, although respondents said the number of CILs in use was very small, while retention of section 106 requirements, which impose planning obligations, may create complications and uncertainties.
Mark Clare, chief executive of Barratt Developments, which produced the report in association with the Smith Institute, said: ‘In the debate about how to build more and better homes the focus is often on the barriers and obstacles; that’s inevitable and we have to address these.
‘But equally we have to identify, and promote the many examples of where housebuilders and local councils are working well together to get homes built.’
