Parliamentarians to debate ‘Will Neighbourhood Planning deliver the homes the country needs?
Two influential groups of MPs and Peers are joining forces to consider the housing crisis at a specially convened meeting in Parliament.
The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Civic Societies and the APPG on Local Democracy are to host a debate in Parliament on whether neighbourhood planning – one of the Government’s flagship localism initiatives – will deliver the homes the country needs. The debate will also explore other approaches which could be used to help get homes built as well as the Neighbourhood Planning Bill which is currently making its way through Parliament.
Confirmed speakers at the event, which will take place on Tuesday 31 January, include Lord Matthew Taylor of Goss Moor, author of The Taylor Report an 'External Review of Government Planning Practice Guidance', Max Farrell, Partner at Farrells and Civic Voice Design Awards chair judge, Joan Humble, Civic Voice chair, Craig Mackinlay MP chair of APPG for Civic Societies, and Scott Mann MP, co- chair of APPG on Local Democracy. John Healey MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Housing has also been invited.
This is the second time the APPG for Civic Societies and APPG on Local Democracy have partnered to deliver an event in parliament and follows their well attended session on the National Planning Policy Framework in June 2016.
Craig Mackinlay MP, chair of APPG for Civic Societies said “It is really great to be joining forces with the APPG on Local Democracy, to once again debate a really important issue. We have a great panel of speakers for this event and it will be interesting to hear their views on how the Government should deliver the homes the country needs. I encourage all civic societies to get their MP involved and invite them to attend the event.”
Scott Mann MP, co-chair of APPG on Local Democracy said “The current housing situation is one of the biggest challenges facing our country and our communities and I’m delighted to be bringing together MPs and Peers to discuss what more needs to be done at national and local level, including through legislation such as the Neighbourhood Planning Bill.”
Secretariat and other support to the APPG on Civic Societies and APPG on Local Democracy is provided by Civic Voice and the National Association of Local Councils respectively.
Notes for Editors
If you would like to attend the event you can register your place for free here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/appg-will-neighbourhood-planning-deliver-the-homes-the-country-needs-tickets-29886874446
About APPG for Civic Societies
The APPG agreed that the priorities for the coming year will be the built and historic environment with a particular focus on places of historical importance. The Civic Voice Design Awards is another project the group intends to take forward with the aim of it to push community participation in planning.
About Civic Voice
Civic Voice is the national charity for the civic movement in England. Our mission is to develop a society where everyone can say “I care about where I live”. We promote civic pride through our network of over 75,000 individual members.