Today’s High Court decision, ruling that the Secretary of State’s revocation of Regional Strategies (RS) in July was unlawful, is a wake up call for the Government to put in place clear transitional arrangements for the move from the old planning system towards its proposed localism based system. The revocation of the RS, just weeks after the election, left a massive hole in the planning process and led to considerable confusion among everyone involved with delivery of housing. While the changes to the system had been well telegraphed by the Government, HBF has consistently called for robust transitional arrangements to be put in place. These are needed to ensure that years of work and investment in bringing forward strategic development sites through the old system are not wasted. Today’s judgment effectively reinstates the RS and their housing targets. It means that local authorities will need to continue to plan for housing delivery using the existing requirements whilst the new building blocks of a locally based planning system are formalised and implemented through legislation over the next two years. Andrew Whitaker, Planning Director of the HBF said: “HBF and the industry remain keen to work with government to ensure that changes to the planning system are introduced in a clear and methodical way. Everyone involved in the delivery of housing, both private and public sectors, has been struggling with the policy vacuum caused by the revocation of Regional Strategies. “Today’s judgment allows the Government to put in place a clear transition to get from the old system to the proposed localism based one. This will avoid throwing away the many years of planning for future housing delivery in which many people, including local communities, have invested their time and money.” For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, please contact Steve Turner on 020 7960 1606 / 07919 307 760 or steve.turner@hbf.co.uk Follow us on Twitter! www.twitter.com/homebuildersfed Notes to Editors: 1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the representative body of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s 300 member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk
