News

The Ministry of Housing, Communities And Government (MHCIG) has proposed changes to the Planning Framework and has invited responses.

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system/proposed-reforms-to-the-national-planning-policy-framework-and-other-changes-to-the-planning-system

The Company responded on 24 September 2024 and the full submission can be found in the submissions page of our website

In our response we stated:

• We are concerned that the  proposals still do not address the systemic problems in the interface of planning and water management.
• We support, with caveats, the proposals but advocate that the further planned  reviews of planning and water strategy must be conducted in tandem.
• We understand the need for more housing, but are concerned about the impact of this on water conservation at a time when environmental water quality is also a matter of national focus.
• There are several outstanding issues such as the failure to implement the mandatory provision  for sustainable urban drainage (SuDS) under the 2010 Flood and Water Act.
• We make a number of strategic and tactical points across a spectrum of planning concerns, including issues not covered by the consultation, but which have impact, for example, the current Judicial Review process, and make some specific suggestions for change.