Decision details

On 6 August 2020, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) launched the Planning for the Future White Paper and consultation, which focused on substantial planning reforms. 

The White Paper consultation covered a package of proposals for reforms of the planning system, covering plan-making, development management, development contributions and other related policy proposals.  The introduction of new primary and secondary legislation to give effect to the changes is likely to come into effect in 2021.

The Government was, therefore, seeking comments on this consultation before 29 October 2020 and the Leader of the Council is being asked to endorse the response from the West Suffolk Council to the Government’s White Paper on Planning for the Future. 

Resolved:

That the Council response to the Government White Paper ‘Planning for the Future’ consultation be endorsed.

The report set out the proposed Council response to the proposals contained in the Government White Paper Consultation.  The most salient points were set out in Section 3. of Report Number CAB/WS/20/064. 

The Leader of the Council had endorsed that a comprehensive response based on the following Key Issues be submitted to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government by the deadline of 29 October 2020:

-      Key Issue: Whole of the planning service to be funded through nationally set fees and National Infrastructure Levy (NIL).  Refunds for out of time application decisions and committee overturns appeals that are allowed.

     (The proposed Council response to this Key Issue is set out in paragraphs 3.2.1 to 3.2.2).

-      Key Issue: Local Plan reform – zoning and design codes

(The proposed Council response to this Key Issue is set out in paragraphs 3.3.1 to 3.3.4)

-      Key Issue: Affordable Housing Provision, Higher Threshold, Impact of National Infrastructure Levy (NIL)

(The proposed Council response to this Key Issue is set out in paragraphs 3.4.1 and 3.4.2)

-      Key Issue: S106 and Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) will be replaced by a National Infrastructure Levy (NIL) based on a fixed proportion of the value of a new development

(The proposed Council response to this Key Issue is set out in paragraphs 3.5.1 to 3.5.3)

-      Key Issue: Move to a more centralised system with greater public participation

(The proposed Council response to this Key Issue is set out in paragraphs 3.6.1 to 3.6.3)

The Council could choose not to respond to the Consultation.  However, this would oblige the Council to react to any Government proposals implemented through statutory guidance.