Housing Secretary floats further refunds if councils take too long to decide planning applications, but also a review of fees

A proposal to refund more fees if councils take too long to decide on specific planning applications will be included in an accelerated planning green paper to be published in November, the Housing Secretary has announced.

The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) claimed that the move would “benefit all planning applicants, from housing developers to individual householders seeking to extend or modify their own home, as it ensures councils work at pace to decide proposals”.

The MHCLG added that application fees would be reviewed to ensure council planning departments are properly resourced, providing more qualified planners to process applications for new homes and other proposals.

The Ministry said residents would “no longer have to contend with a complicated and outdated planning system, but a more user-friendly approach designed to simplify the process”.

Other proposals include:

• The simplification of guidance, with the introduction of a new tiered planning system, which the MHCLG said would benefit small developers in particular.
• An ambition to reduce planning conditions by a third.
• Allowing homes to be built above existing properties (through a further extension of permitted development rights) as well as seeking views on demolishing old commercial buildings for new housing.
• A new green standard for new build homes, on which the MHCLG is consulting. This will “see polluting fossil fuel heating systems such as gas boilers banned from new homes by 2025 and replaced with the latest generation of clean technology – such as air source heat pumps and cutting-edge solar panels.” The consultation will run until January 2020.
• A new national design code that will ensure developers build "beautiful, well designed homes that people are proud to live in". 
• An expectation that within coming months every single local authority will produce their own design guide “which reflects their unique setting, character and history, while meeting the expected national standard”.

The Housing Secretary, Robert Jenrick, said: “Building new homes isn’t just about bricks and mortar, I want to ensure everyone – including developers – do their bit to protect the environment and give the next generation beautiful, environmentally friendly homes that local communities can support.

“That’s why I am requiring carbon emissions are cut by up to 80% from 2025 for all new homes and have published a National Design Guide, setting out simply what we expect from new development.”