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Barker calls for shake-up of planning laws

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Summary

The Barker Review finds that the planning system affects our quality of life, from the quality of the urban environment to our homes, our jobs and our access to the countryside.

The purpose of Barker Review was to consider how, in the context of globalisation and planning reforms, planning laws can revised to deliver economic growth while ensuring sustainable development.

The Report examines:

  • Improving the efficiency of the planning system
  • Increasing flexibility and transparency to benefit businesses
  • Delivery of sustainable economic objectives
  • Delivery of sustainable development and sustainable communities

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Law-Making Explained

This is an ad-hoc independent review commissioned by the Treasury.

How does it affect me?

If you are working in the construction, engineering or planning sector, this affects you.

In addition, the Review finds that the planning system affects our quality of life, from our homes and our jobs to the urban environment and our access to the countryside.

Recommended revisions of planning regulations include:

  • Allowing extensions and loft conversions to be build without permission being sought ยท Simplifying regulations to enable the development of new homes
  • Creating an independent planning system to deal with large-scale infrastructure projects
  • Promoting a positive planning culture so that applications can be approved unless there is good reason to believe that there are significant environmental, social or economic costs
  • Encouraging planning bodies to review green belt boundaries to promote sustainable new development beyond towns and cities
  • Removing the need for minor commercial developments that have little wider impact to require planning permission.

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