The Government is planning to give Mayors across England ‘call in’ powers for larger developments, rolling out existing powers of the Mayor of London to oversee schemes under the National Planning Policy Framework.
A consultation has been launched on the plan which will enable Mayors to take over key planning applications based on their impact on local growth, and direct a council to either accept or refuse it. The move has been backed by 10 Mayors from across political parties, which will see a minimum threshold of more than 150 homes, more than 15,000 m2 of commercial space, or any building over 30 metres or taller in scope of the ‘call in’ powers.
Mayors will also be able to grant ‘up front’ permission for development, allowing construction to begin before waiting for planning approval is granted in the normal way. Councils will however “continue to decide the majority of applications,” said the Government.
Mayors outside London will also be able to charge a levy on development to fund major infrastructure, in the same way the Elizabeth Line was funded in London.
Simon Cox, Managing Director at land agency Walter Cooper, commented:
Some in the industry were less than impressed with the proposals.
The County Councils Network commented:
“Even where a Local Plan is in place, in many instances national policy will override this and mean that councils are unable to refuse development in locations that are not connected to existing settlements, resulting in homes being built in a piecemeal and unplanned way across the countryside. We remain sceptical that the revised document will not undermine this plan-led system. Other policies, such as the presumption of ‘yes’ to developments next to train stations, are suitable for urban areas but could permanently and dramatically change the character of a village.
The Conservative Party has objected to the proposals based on how they may override local opposition to development, but Paul Bristow, Conservative mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, told BBC Breakfast that if he had local powers, he would approve “tomorrow” a couple of blocked schemes that he said would “get new homes built that families could move into and charge economic growth.”
Bristow said
“it was about developers and councils finding a compromise on projects instead of just saying no.”
Rates of housebuilding have fallen in London since the powers were granted to Mayor Sadiq Khan.