The Tories have already passed new laws that allow developers, without planning permission, to: add up to two new floors on to any block of flats; demolish and rebuild empty buildings; and allow people to add multiple floors to their homes.
But the Conservatives in Government want to go further:
- They are proposing to use a computer algorithm to decide where homes are needed, telling every council and community how many homes it must build. In Kingston, the algorithm suggests a target of 1,500 new homes built per year, up from the target of 964 in the new London Plan.
- They are effectively proposing to scrap the need to submit a planning application which has to be consulted on and voted on by local councillors.
- There are a number of other flaws in the plans, including removing the ability for Councils to insist on a number of affordable homes to be built with each development.
The reforms are completely unnecessary as the current planning system is not the barrier to building new homes as 9 out of 10 planning applications are approved.