The government will publish the green paper on planning in December, and hopes to timetable legislation for next November.
Speaking at the CBI’s 25th annual conference in Birmingham today, planning minister Lord Falconer said that, following the publication of the green paper next month, the timetable would be tight.
“Over the next few weeks we will publish a Green Paper on reforming the planning system, a consultation document on new Parliamentary procedures for major infrastructure projects, a consultation document about compulsory purchase and compensation, new proposals for agreeing planning obligations and consultation on use classes.”
He added that draft legislation would be needed to be drawn up by May 2002, leaving very little time for thorough consultation.
The minister said he was even more confident of securing parliamentary time in the next session following Prime Minister Tony Blair’s commitment to reform the planning system in his speech to the CBI yesterday.
Falconer said: “I can’t tell you what other priorities the government has for parliamentary time, but we will be bidding for a slot in November 2002. We will bid as strongly as we possibly can, and I think we will get it.”
Digby Jones, director-general of the CBI said: “We have got some key commitments in planning today. But the proof of the pudding will be in delivery, delivery, delivery.”
