"It is vital that the planning process is protected as part of this, and that local communities have a say over the area they live in. This is the best way to ensure homes are built to high standards with the necessary infrastructure in place, and affordable housing provided."
Responding to the launch of the Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission’s final report, Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s planning spokesman, said:
“Councils are committed to building the homes the country desperately needs and healthy prosperous places for people to live, work and play in. We want to work with government on standards to future-proof all new homes and ensure they are accessible for all ages and environmentally sustainable.
“It is vital that the planning process is protected as part of this, and that local communities have a say over the area they live in. This is the best way to ensure homes are built to high standards with the necessary infrastructure in place, and affordable housing provided.
“Planning departments also need to be properly resourced, and allowed to set their own planning fees, with taxpayers currently footing a £200 million annual bill to cover the cost of processing applications.
“Planning is not a barrier to housebuilding with councils approving nine in 10 planning applications and are granting permission for more homes than are being built.
“We are pleased this report recognises the challenges around permitted development rules. We urge Government to go further and scrap them altogether, handing communities back the ability to oversee all developments.”