Government Publishes White Paper: Planning for the Future

On 6 August 2020, the government published its long awaited White Paper, Planning for the Future.

The government wants to fundamentally reform the planning system to “address its underlying weaknesses and create a system fit for the 21st century”.

Proposals include:

• Streamlining the planning system with more democracy taking place at the plan-making stage.
• Digitising planning by moving from “a process based on documents to a process driven by data”.
• Bringing a new focus on design and sustainability.
• Improving infrastructure delivery and reforming developer contributions.
• Ensuring more land is available for houses and the type of development that communities need.
• Supporting the renewal of town and city centres.

The government is seeking views on specific proposals and the wider package of reforms.

The consultation period ends on 29 October 2020.

View the White Paper here