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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

We, the undersigned, call on the Government to reconsider their changes to the planning system which do not solve the lack of new homes being built.