DCN RESPONDS TO THE REVISED NATIONAL PLANNING POLICY FRAMEWORK

Responding to the Government’s changes to the National Planning Policy Framework, Cllr Gillian Brown, DCN Planning spokesperson, said:

“England’s 201 district councils are committed to delivering the housing that this country and our communities desperately need throughout two thirds of the country.

“Whilst the revised NPPF provides some much needed clarity on local plan production and introduces greater transparency in the planning system, it should go even further, to empower local authorities with the powers they need to drive housing growth.

“If the Government expects councils to manage their local housing markets then it’s essential that councils are supplied with the need the practical, legal and financial tools to do it.

“National policies will always find it difficult to reflect local circumstances, so we look forward to the publication of the Letwin review later this year, which we hope will introduce a rebalancing of negotiating powers between housing authorities and developers. This is needed alongside the provision of greater fiscal freedoms, which would ensure that the houses we plan for are actually delivered.”

ENDS

District Councils’ Network media office, 020 7664 3333