黑洞社区

Sweeping reforms to planning laws were at the centre of today鈥檚 Queen鈥檚 Speech as the government set out its agenda for what could be a watershed year for the construction industry.

The Planning Bill is now set to be brought before parliament this autumn and is expected to include proposals to scrap Section 106 agreements and replace it with a new Infrastructure Levy.

It will also introduce new design codes and force councils to zone land for 鈥済rowth鈥�, 鈥減rotection鈥� or 鈥渞enewal鈥�, with land labelled for growth getting automatic outline planning permission. Councils will be unable to reject applications which accord with local rules.

The Queen鈥檚 Speech said the government plans to press ahead with the reforms despite objections from environmental groups.

Ministers have been reported to believe the reforms are the best way to boost home ownership, which is seen as a factor in the Conservative party鈥檚 electoral success in the 鈥榬ed wall鈥� of former Labour seats over the past two years.

Assael Architecture managing director Pete Ladhams welcomed the proposals, saying that the current system was 鈥渦rgently in need of an overhaul鈥�.

He said automatic approval in areas zoned as growth will allow architects to 鈥渞espond to the urgent needs of towns and cities swiftly鈥�, adding that it will 鈥済reatly increase鈥� the government鈥檚 chances of hitting its target to build 300,000 homes a year.

London affordable housing developer Dolphin Living also backed the plans, with its chief executive Olivia Harris saying it was right that the government was reforming planning as part of the post-covid recovery.

And modular housing developers also gave their support, with TopHat managing director Andrew Shepherd saying it could 鈥渁ct as a catalyst for innovation鈥� by driving the uptake of modern methods of construction.

Dave Sheridan, executive chairman of modular housebuilder Ilke Homes, said the Queen鈥檚 Speech was 鈥渇antastic news for the housebuilding industry鈥�.

But Royal Town Planning Institute chief executive Victoria Hills suggested the zoning proposals needed 鈥渇urther nuance鈥� to differentiate between areas needing radical masterplanning from suburbs and industrial areas primed for redevelopment.

And Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey blasted the plans, saying that they would 鈥渞ip powers away from local people and communities in favour of wealthy property developers, threatening our environment and treasured green spaces鈥�.

The speech also included confirmation that a 黑洞社区 Safety Regulator is being set up as part of the 黑洞社区 Safety Bill, which will be introduced this year.

NBS spokesperson Richard Waterhouse backed the plans but said that the regulator must have access to digital records and accurate record-keeping on behalf of building owners 鈥渟o that transparency is at the heart of the construction industry鈥�.

鈥淥nly when this is done will the design teams, constructors, and end-users have the assurances they need to know the products have been specified in the right way and to the correct standards.鈥�

Also in the speech were proposals to introduce legislation setting binding net zero targets, a streamlining of public procurement and legislation to support a 鈥渓ifetime skills guarantee鈥� to enable people to access training throughout their lives.

Arcadis UK cities director Peter Hogg said the focus on skills will be welcome news to the industry with growth 鈥渃onstrained by capability, and individuals whose skills are mismatched to a fast-changing workplace alike鈥�.

Director of external affairs for the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Marie-Claude Hemming welcomed the plans to simplify public procurement and said she hoped the government would consider the findings of a review into frameworks currently being carried out.

Turner & Townsend UK managing director Patricia Moore said that procurement was a 鈥渧ital piece of the puzzle鈥� for the industry鈥檚 capacity to deliver the government鈥檚 building agenda.

鈥淎s construction鈥檚 biggest client, it is government that needs to lead the charge and initiate this change 鈥� speeding up and simplifying processes, prioritising local businesses, investing in new technologies and mandating sustainable procurement solutions.鈥�