Politics of Planning

On Thursday 6th December 2018, SP Broadway hosted a Politics of Planning lunch in the Carlton Club with President of the Town and Country Planning Association and former Planning Minister Nick Raynsford.

Homes England have announced a marked increase in the commencement of new homes in the last six months - however they have been criticised by Labour over the number of  these homes that are for social rent.

Last week the Rt Hon Nick Raynsford published the ‘Raynsford Review’ – a review into the planning system in England, commissioned by the Town and Country Planning Association.

Secretary of State James Brokenshire has announced that a net total of 222,190 additional homes were delivered in 2017/18, the highest number of new homes across England in all but one of the last 31 years.

On 3 November, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government  James Brokenshire announced a new  Commission to “tackle the challenge of poor-quality design and build of homes and places, across the country."

Sir Oliver Letwin MP’s review into the slow buildout of housing developments has been published, concluding that a new set of planning rules should be formulated to speed up the construction of developments of over 1,500 homes.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has announced a new £10 millon ‘Homebuilding Capacity Fund’ to increase London borough councils’ housing and planning staff.

On Friday 12 October SP Broadway hosted a Politics of Planning breakfast roundtable discussion at Chichester Cathedral with Leader of Chichester District Council, Cllr Tony Dignum .

Last week, SP Broadway attended the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, where amongst the continuing debate over a Brexit deal, housing featured high on the agenda.

At last week’s Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Shadow Minister for Planning Roberta Blackman-Woods launched the party’s first ‘Planning Commission’.