Overview
- Developments within a 15-minute walk of well-connected rail or tram stations would receive a default yes, including some sites within the green belt.
- Councils intending to refuse schemes of more than 150 homes would have to notify the government, giving the housing secretary the option to make the final decision.
- Ministers propose amending the National Planning Policy Framework, introducing minimum density requirements, and scaling back statutory consultees such as Sport England, The Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust.
- The measures would apply across England and Wales to prioritise transit-oriented housing near major transport hubs.
- Developers welcomed the push to speed approvals, while the Local Government Association and Conservatives warned of reduced local accountability, with all changes now subject to consultation.