Thread by @shortthought

Opposition Day Debate - 'Local involvement in planning decisions' is about to start and can be watched, here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/51…, as well as on the BBC Parliament channel.
A thread about what members have said (and some opinions)
#HousingCrisis

Steve Reed MP is up, suggesting that local government and local people will lose the ability to object to planning applications (not true btw & nothing released yet).
An intervention sees Mr Reed cite 1million unbuilt homes. (he's wrong).
builtplace.com/digging-deeper…

Mr Reed is saying that the government will concrete over communities and developers who have contributed to the party and reform is a developers charter.
Tell that the 99.9% of builders classed as #SMEs, who dont get allocated by local councils (not the Government).

Reed says 9 in 10 planning applications get approval but 1million havent been built & landbanking is being blamed. This is wholly incorrect, see this report. These sites are also allocated by our councils and are definitely not shovel ready, @SteveReedMP!
builtplace.com/digging-deeper…

@Wera_Hobhouse says the wrong homes are being built.
This is absolutely an issue but unfortunately, she misunderstands how homes get planned for, allocated & permissioned! A local authority responsibility!

@ChrisPincher now up, saying that the Govt's planning reforms are a sensible approach and will deliver more certainty.
Says it takes 7 years to adopt local plan and some councils have no local plan at all.
Supports an interjection to protect the greenbelt. Sigh! It needs reform!

@DanielZeichner asks a question about how we deliver net gain in zoned areas.

A quick look at the environment bill shows this will be done on a site by site basis & strategic council biodiversity approaches.

@ChrisPincher goes on to say it can take up to 5 years to determine planning applications and certainty through digitisation of planning and digital engagement will ensure much more engagement.
Cites a poll showing that 69% of people had no knowledge of local plan making.

@EmmaHardyMP asks about flood insurance and flooding of new sites. Pincher agrees this is a challenge.

It is, hence the need to deliver within communities first (the Renewal zones) before planning for growth in erm, the Growth zones.

Local Development Orders (a Labour policy) have been brought up, as have Neighbourhood Planning. Two very fair points, as they offer greater local engagement.
@ChrisPincher offers a chance for @SteveReedMP to speak to MHCLG and learn how the planning system actually works.
🔥

Pincher......Communities will have more, not less of a say. Reforms will deliver more information, better engagement & more influence of planning. Says
1% get involved in local plan making. 2% or 3% get involved in individual developments. The Government plans will improve that.

Lots more about digital planning, including visualising planning based on mapping and clear site specific requirements.
Design codes will ensure developers will adhere to rules....hmmm, as long as they don't restrict creativity & guide good practice.

Pincher says holistic review of council resources being conducted.
@griffitha asks about brownfield; Mr Pincher says is absolutely key.

Good point BUT in many places there's no brownfield, or not enough. Therefore they must commit to green space release.

Pincher.....wants to incentivise developers to build out.

Seriously though, lots of allocations arent shovel ready and the ones which are, often arent allocated as they're too small for councils to care! Maybe it's time they allocated sites which can deliver immediately!

Pincher....believes that a more up to date local plan will ensure less speculative development,
Improve energy efficiency. Enhance greenbelt. Deliver more brownfield.

Mike Wood MP, says that planners are advising that greenbelt gets released. Pincher says that the @Conservatives have committed to protecting the greenbelt to protect against urban sprawl.

Does that mean we can, if it doesnt deliver urban sprawl, build on it? Doubtful!

Government is not taking up the recommendation to review the greenbelt.

This is a disgrace @ChrisPincher/@RobertJenrick/@mhclg because some of it isnt even green! And much doesnt stop urban sprawl but instead, simply stops development for votes!

Pincher goes on to say we must deliver for need, the right homes for younger & older people.
Says government has an ambition to build 300,000 homes a year by middle of this decade.

Without the greenbelt? 🤷‍♂️
Though tbh, local govt allocates greenbelt. Govt can avoid the debate.

Think I've done enough Pincher promotion at the moment. Basically, the Government will reform planning and build the homes the country wants and need, with Labour simply opposing them.

Valerie Vaz says the govt will exclude the public & the developers charter, will become the publics nightmare.
Says all new homes should have solar panels.

Disagree. We also need strategic energy solutions, not just panels on homes.

VV says all committee votes need recording.👍

@William_Wragg is correctly identifying the need for local authorities to do more but that reforms are not being opposed because people are NIMBYS or BANANAS.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NIMBY#:~:….

@Steph_Peacock says local authorities get the blame for under delivery and planning is a legal process, with the Government selling out councils for their developers.

Councils allocate sites & developers get the blame. Not the other way around. Sorry, Steph. You have it wrong.

Sir John Hayes says fewer people own homes now. Every poll taken says most people want to own but must be beautiful.
However, population growth has not been accounted for. Says we must control net migration (not for this debate) but planning reforms must be community orientated.

Helen Hayes correctly identifying the need to have zero carbon standards and land/CPO reform, so that councils can buy land at an affordable level.

Shame so few councils use LDOs for eg-passivhaus. Also that they don't use their own landbanks to build. They could also buy land!

@charlotte2153 talks about not building appropriate houses, eg-3 and 4 bedroom houses. Says this is an obviously terrible proposal & govt has been bought.

Council do needs assessment & allocate sites/permission homes.
You think developers want to build 1 beds? Really?!🤦‍♂️

@RachaelMaskell says that in York, too many homes are not being built for local people. £500k homes are not affordable. Wants better planned communities, which don't restrict economic benefits in the north, eg-jobs.

Worth noting that York is run by @LibDems & @TheGreenParty.

@ChrisClarksonMP - Erm, Chris is basically calling out the hypocrisy of the opponents. Great speech but rapid. The thrust, #brownfieldnow! His council are failing his constituents. His short, rapid speech can be watched, here -
parliamentlive.tv/event/index/51…

@EmmaHardyMP focuses on the need to have better designed housing, for specialist needs.

Wholly agree. Great intervention. Well done Emma.

@neill_bob correctly identifies pre-commencement conditions for medium sized developers being painful and more clarity in planning conditions needed for larger sites. Also more modernisation of planning but local communities still need a strong say.
Also, we need more planners!

@YasminQureshiMP (wrongly) says planning reforms are for developers who have contributed to the party. Nonsense, pure nonsense!

Correctly identifies need for sustainable transport, climate ready homes, brownfield and more social, retirement & sheltered homes.

@ClaireCoutinho broadly supports changes but feels we need to ensure better outcomes, such as biodiversity.

Correctly identifies Labour are creating division for political capital, without contributing to better solutions. Encourages them to work with the opposition.

@timfarron says the policy will deliver fewer homes & allow developers to build more executive homes and fewer affordable homes.

Says we should amend planning laws so that holiday lets are separate from planning laws. Wants to save his local community,

Fair enough on para 2!

@IoWBobSeely says that neighbourhood planning can deliver more homes.
Wants a tax on greenfield sites.

I believe one study in London shows that, in other places it does not.
Also, what about places without brownfield?
Says he has many more ideas, eg-CPO.
lichfields.uk/content/insigh…

@IoWBobSeely advocates higher density, non car dependent places on green sites.

Makes sense to me! Shame councils don't want too much density.

@CatMcKinnell says we need more infrastructure strategy in the plan, as developers don't finish it, or not enough delivered. Says councils being forced to deliver too many homes.

Be interested to see those examples. Doesnt seem correct to me. We need more infra investment tho.

@CGreenUK says we need more clarity for certainty for communities. And infrastructure is an important factor to get buy in, eg-spine roads.
Wants more brownfield first and champions Bolton for trying to enable that in their local planning.
Says Bolton needs promised devolution.

@hammersmithandy wants reforms to deliver social housing & better energy efficiency. Says Permitted Development is delivering worse outcomes. Cites 'donations for deregulations'.

They do; Future Home Standard. Design codes are coming!
London social housing needs a whole thread.

@johnredwood says 1,000s of permissions unbuilt locally. Must protect green sites & have sustainable immigration with better homes.

Oh no John, you have given me something to research on why they're unbuilt! Btw, your council are planning 200% of the minimum supply target.

@MGreenwoodWW Says we should support this motion because local communities like hers don't want to build on the greenbelt and is worried that their choice is being taken away with the zoning.

Remember readers, no policy has yet been released!

https://twitter.com/MGreenwoodWW/status/1406974226960207874?s=20

@griffitha criticised @UKLabour & @TheGreenParty for building homes on Brighton greenspaces.

I live in Brighton. That's exactly what we need, as well as many small sites within communities,
Cllr Nemeth has been identifying sites within the city, so can offer alternatives.

@TaiwoOwatemi is basically proving she doesnt understand the planning system at all.

I'd say something about what she said but read any anti-development rhetoric and you'll get it.
At least she said 'major developers.' The current system definitely helps them the most!

@SimonClarkeMP supportive & cites design codes, infrastructure levies and zoning as positive.
Wants to cut the ropes which stop homes being built. Says we need to do more for supply, not demand. That's why land supply must be increased.
We need political courage with pragmatism.

@darrenpjones citing the need for more net zero homes & energy solutions, have fewer automatic permissions which deliver poor outcomes. Says we need more neighbourhood planning.
Criticised the proposals & the govt needs to go back to the drawing board.

@JackLopresti says we must increase supply but to do so we must speed up the planning process, especially using modern technology.
Says the opposition shouldnt be trying to kill the bill & the greenbelt is strangling supply. We have space. We can build new towns. 1/2

Says we shouldnt keep saying 'building the wrong homes in the wrong places'. We're harming small builders to big housing associations.

@JackLopresti understands that the planning process harms ALL who want to build, from councils & charities, to self, medium & big builders.
2/2

@stevedouble & @DerekThomasUK cite that in Cornwall, we need to ensure less second home ownership. Steve says bill must ensure more SME builders can build & that we build for local families.
Correctly cites SMEs train apprentices.

7 in 10 in fact & 90% of training capacity!

@Wera_Hobhouse talks about 9 in 10 planning applications not delivered.
Need more climate action with more sustainable homes.

Wera, wrong on applications but we do need more sustainable homes. How many Lib Dem councils have LDOs for passivhaus?🤔(None)
builtplace.com/digging-deeper…

@Jane_Stevenson_ gives a fair review of some local issues and the need for better cross boundary co-operation between counties and applauding the ambition of @mhclg. Talks about the need for more homes, a more modern planning process & more varied housing types, eg-retirement.

@FloEshalomi, says ministers are correct to say reform is needed but local people need a say. Says site specific design codes may be problematic & not enable real local wants. Cites height of buildings casting shadows and champions local people engaging with the process.

@ClaudiaWebbe says we need to build more council housing and this is a landgrab for developers & landlords.

I agree with more social housing but I encourage all of those who want more social homes, to think about why they don't get delivered. It's not just funding!

@JamesDalyMP says government is protecting greenbelt but criticised his local Labour council (Bury) for not having a local plan, which means there's no vision or protection. Says this is a disgrace.

It is but greenbelt needs more consideration. Must stop being a 'vote winner'.

@RuthCadbury wraps it up fairly says planning is about better places, more of the right homes, net zero housing, better high streets. New development needs local involvement to achieve that. This is the next step to dismantle the planning system eg-through PD rights. 1/4

Says 30 month too short a time to write local plans (ambitious councils would disagree), cites the false figure about 1m unbuilt homes. Says bulk of homes are executive homes. Wants house prices to drop & too few homes are affordable everywhere. We need mixed communities. 2/4

Welcomes speeding up local plans, digital planning & needing more planners. Need specialist housing. Protecting highstreets & environment. Need net zero housing. The specific proposals are not there. We need an improved planning system, with more engagement & less PD. 3/4

Ruth started well but sadly, ended up in the tired rhetoric of 'developers charter'. Some good proposals in the wrap up, some members did offer good suggestions.
I guess Labour need to back up their rhetoric, as they started the debate, so criticising developers was obvious.
4/4

@RobertJenrick ends debate & says it's clear that members think the current planning system doesnt work, with some making good & important points.
Goes on the criticise Welsh Labour delivering just 12 social homes in one constituency. A Labour housing provider going bankrupt. 1/5

Criticises @EdwardJDavey for saying he's a YIMBY, despite his parties recent by-election win being on a BANANA (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anything) campaign. 2/5

@RobertJenrick criticises Labour for this tweet, the image coming from an article about £10m homes being the new £5m ones.
Criticised @AndyBurnhamGM for building on #greenbelt (it's tough but in places needed, stick with it, Andy. #UncomfortableTruth). 3/5

https://twitter.com/UKLabour/status/1406947513857462276?s=20

@RobertJenrick says he is tipping the balance toward #SMEs, not volume. The current system is stacked in the balance of the big boys and this Government will change that, so that local brickies can find work.
Says this is a brownfield first policy.
4/5

@RobertJenrick says he is going to ensure greater engagement, local plans are delivered in 30months, not 7 years.
Govt will ensure more people will be part of planning.
Govt will listen but MPs are sent here to tackle the hard questions, so we must tackle the #housingcrisis.
5/5

Division so that MP's can vote on a @UKLabour opposition day motion on local involvement in planning decisions.
Result expected at 19:45

Political theatre, over!
231 Ayes - 0 Noes