Overview

• Angela Rayner, Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary, announced reforms to overhaul the planning system to address the UK's housing crisis.
• The Labour government aims to build 1.5 million homes over the next five years, with mandatory housing targets and local development plans for councils.
• The proposed changes would allow developments meeting local and national criteria to bypass council committees, expediting approval processes while maintaining democratic oversight through pre-established plans.
• Councils without up-to-date local plans may face government intervention to ensure housing targets are met, with just under a third of councils currently compliant.
• The reforms aim to reduce delays caused by local opposition and planning committee bottlenecks, while providing certainty to developers and addressing the growing demand for affordable housing.