Communities secretary Sajid Javid has defended neighbourhood planning, saying it was “far from being a nimby’s charter” as he promoted new planning powers for community groups.
Speaking during the second reading of the Neighbourhood Planning Bill, he said communities with neighbourhood plans have, on average, planned for 10% more homes and can see housing delivered more quickly.
He said: “Giving communities greater influence over the planning process can reduce the number of objections, so that more homes can be built more quickly.”
The Neighbourhood Planning Bill, which was first published last month, introduces measures designed to speed up the development process through neighbourhood planning, planning conditions, the planning register and compulsory purchase orders.
Helen Hayes, Labour MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, said the bill needed to do more to address the need to speed up housebuilding. She said: “It is polishing the bannister when the staircase is falling down.”
Critics say neighbourhood plans add another unnecessary layer of policy to planning.
Matt Willcock, head of development at Westrock, said: “In their current form neighbourhood plans represent another layer of needless policy that has strengthened nimbys at the expense of the silent majority who recognise the benefits of development, especially new homes.”
Housing minister Gavin Barwell said the bill was an “important step” in a wider plan to “create a housing market that works for everyone” but it would not solve the problem on its own.
A housing white paper will be published around the same time as the Autumn Statement and will set out the government’s full policies on housing.
Need to know: Neighbourhood development plans
- Neighbourhood development plans were introduced in 2011.
- 240 neighbourhood plans have been adopted, representing 2,000 community groups.
- To adopt a neighbourhood plan, a community must have a local plan in place and must be examined by the inspector and a local referendum held.
- New rules will mean planners must take account of “well-advanced neighbourhood development plans” and councils cannot overrule the plans once they are adopted.
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