County councils call for increased planning role

'Streamline the currently fragmented infrastructure'

A new role for county councils in planning could help overcome ‘nimbyism’ in local areas, and help rural residents get onto the housing ladder, leaders of England’s largest councils argue.

The County Councils Network (CCN), which represents all 27 county councils in England has called for an increased role for those councils in the planning system in its new publication, A New Deal for Counties’which sets out policy proposals for the government.

New figures show that the average county house price is now nine times average yearly earnings, rising to 12 times higher in some counties in the south-east, and CCN has backed DCLG’s commitment this week to build 300,000 homes per year.

However CCN argues that the key to unlocking timely and affordable homes was dealing with the concerns that developments have not been supported with the necessary infrastructure and funding that allows public services and communities to deal with growing demand. As a consequence, major developments are unpopular locally, with residents and MPs resisting moves to increase to increase the number of homes to meet with the nation’s growing housing crisis.

CCN is calling for an increased role for the county council in the planning system, to streamline the currently fragmented system that sees district councils oversee housing and counties overseeing infrastructure. By bringing both together in ‘strategic planning’ arrangements, counties and districts can plan for homes over a whole county, rather than the current system being restricted to pockets of areas containing on average 100,000 people.

Commenting on the press release, Kevin Crawford MCIAT, Vice President Technical said 'It is important for all stakeholders to take a more holistic view.  CIAT is pleased to see the move to harmonise the planning process and is constantly lobbying for a more joined up system. However, it is vital that the principles of development, once agreed at strategic and local authority level, are implemented when appropriate so that sustainable development is carried through and that new housing supply is maintained and not unnecessarily impeded.'

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