The Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on a government consultation on changes to the existing planning system, and setting out at Appendix 1 a recommended response to the consultation.

The report noted that in recent years the government had made frequent changes to the planning system, with the aim of streamlining the development process and delivering more homes.  Most recently, a consultation had taken place on the Planning White Paper, which proposed a fundamental overhaul of the entire planning system, to which the Council had responded in October 2020 (Minute 48 of the meeting held on 28 September 2020 refers).  The current consultation dealt with the existing planning system, and proposed a number of changes that could be made to the way it currently operated, in advance of any more fundamental changes as a result of the Planning White Paper.  There were three elements of this consultation: a new permitted development right to change commercial uses into residential; changes to simplify and streamline the process for new and extended public service infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, further education colleges and prisons; and consolidation and simplification of some existing permitted development rights.

Resolved –

          That the proposed response to the consultation on Supporting Housing Delivery and Public Service Infrastructure set out at Appendix 1 be approved.