How can the planning system deliver the housing and other development Britain needs?’

Private round table at Conservative Party Conference, Manchester

Author: Localis   |  

‘How can the planning system deliver the housing and other development Britain needs?’

Localis in association with Commercial Estates Group will be hosting a private invite-only roundtable discussion on the effectiveness of the planning system at Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on the afternoon of Monday 5th October.

The Coalition introduced a number of changes to try and make the planning system operate more effectively and the new Conservative Government used the Summer Budget to announce further tweaks to catalyse residential, commercial, retail and other development. In particular this Parliament will see a strong focus on increasing housebuilding and development to support ongoing economic growth ? and it will be Conservative councils, in collaboration with the private sector, who play a central role here, especially so given the tensions surrounding residential development in the Green Belt areas and the growing need for councils to facilitate growth in order to remain financially sustainable.

Bringing together senior figures from central and local government and other relevant stakeholders, this roundtable will consider whether the current planning system is now set up to meet England’s economic and social needs. The event will be entirely private and conducted under the Chatham House rule; the discussion will be structured around the following questions:

  • Does the current system allow for the right balance between national and local control?
  • Are the New Homes Bonus and Business Rates Retention strong enough incentives to encourage housebuilding and commercial development? How could widespread devolution affect residential and commercial development?
  • What else can local and central government do to encourage residential and commercial development?
  • Does the current system allow for sufficient inter-authority co-operation over infrastructure provision?

The roundtable will be held on Monday 5th October at 4:15pm, at Manchester Central Library, St Peter’s Square, M2 5PD a short (1 minute) walk from the Conference Centre. If you would be interested in hearing more about this event, please contact Jack Airey on jack.airey@localis.org.uk.