Today, Tuesday 19 December 2023, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has announced the second phase of its Long-Term Plan for Housing, launched in July 2023. Speaking at the headquarters of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) at 66 Portland Place, London, the Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, said that the changes would speed up the planning system, and outlined the Government’s response to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill: reforms to national planning policy consultation.
RIBA Chair of Board Jack Pringle gave opening remarks before welcoming the Secretary of State onto the stage in the RIBA Gallery. Responding to the announcement, he said:
“Today’s focus on ensuring that we build more new homes, alongside the infrastructure needed to sustain our communities, is to be applauded. New measures to tackle delays in the planning process and ensure that local authorities have clear plans in place are long overdue.
The Secretary of State has recognised the important role of architects and planners, but this must be backed with further resource. Delivering high-quality, sustainable and genuinely affordable new homes will require more skilled expertise in overstretched local planning departments. As was acknowledged, to do this we must ensure fees paid for planning applications are invested back into the system.
We look forward to seeing further detail on today’s announcements and will continue to work with the Government to deliver homes and places in which people can thrive. Our planning system is an impediment to badly needed development at local, national and infrastructure levels. We need to move to a simpler, faster planning system with more predictable outcomes.”
Notes to editors:
- Media contact: Ruby.OShea@riba.org
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
