Government urged to privatise the planning process

A land agent has called for the planning process to be privatised as it hits out at the Government’s focus on Stamp Duty reforms to boost the housing market.

Land agent Aston Mead has suggested the Government has focused on the wrong area of the housing market by cutting Stamp Duty, which it warns will only increase property prices.

Adam Hesse, land and planning director for Aston Mead, said reforming the the planning process should now be the focus.

He said: “For decades, housebuilding in this country has been trying to cope with a planning system that is no longer fit for purpose. It’s antiquated, understaffed and creaking at the seams – not helped by a raft of austerity cuts, which have left the system seriously overstretched and achingly slow.

“But instead of recognising this and doing something about it – as we’ve seen in the chancellor’s recent mini-Budget – the Government makes tinkering changes to Stamp Duty, which is likely to artificially stoke house price inflation, making an eventual fall in prices inevitable.

“The trouble is, tax incentives alone don’t change the market fundamentals – which is demand outpacing supply, itself made worse by a planning system that’s simply not up to the job.”

Hesse said that privatising planning would make the single biggest difference to increasing housing supply, thereby helping to keep prices down.

He added: “If a business was run like a local planning department it wouldn’t be around very long.

“So, we need to seize what aspects business does well – conducting a slimline operation with rapid decision making, whilst keeping an eye on the bottom line – and introduce these factors into the planning system, in order to get things done.

“What’s more, we need to take the politics out of planning. When local councillors are asked to make planning judgements, they will inevitably be influenced not by what is right or good, but instead how their decision might affect the chances of them being re-elected – which is clearly madness!

“Worse still, even if planning officers advise acceptance of a proposal, they can be overruled by councillors.

“If the developer’s subsequent appeal is granted, which is often the case because the planning officer has said it ticks the necessary boxes, the council has to pay costs – which is an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money. “

Hesse said there would need to be some checks and balances introduced into the system, adding: “Just as architects are governed by the RIBA and surveyors are governed by the RICS, there could be a similar governing body for privatised planning agencies.

“This is not such a radical suggestion; after all, building control has already been privatised. 

“It’s not unknown for councils to have members of staff paid directly by developers, to help speed up the whole process.

“If the planning system is left as it is, departments will remain understaffed and overworked, and long delays will continue. 

“Not only will this involve all the knock-on problems for the related professions – such as architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, kitchen fitters, painters, decorators, electricians, plumbers and developers - it means thousands of potential homeowners will be denied the opportunity to purchase the property they’ve been dreaming of.”