The Government's White Paper proposes a radical and
ambitious overhaul of the English planning system, intended to
streamline the planning process. It sets out key principles for a
new system, which is likely to involve new primary legislation. The
wide ranging reforms extend from plan making – which, in
effect, introduces a zoning system under which land would be
allocated for Growth, Renewal, or Protection – to the
wholesale replacement of the existing system of Section 106 and CIL
contributions with a one-size-fits-all consolidated
'Infrastructure Levy'.
The proposals are undoubtedly pro-development, although
primarily focused on the housing market and underpinned by a focus
on 'building beautiful', which is reflected in a fast-track
approach for beautiful designs. They represent a helpful move
towards simplifying local plans so they provide 'a core
set' of rules (standards and requirements) which will
apply to 'suitable' development uses for specific
areas. In
