Civic Voice Responds to the King’s Speech Announcements

Civic Voice, the national charity for the civic movement in England, welcomes the announcements made in the King’s Speech, particularly those that directly align with our mission to promote and support civic pride and community-led planning. Below are the key points of relevance to our work:

The introduction to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill by the King emphasised the government's commitment: "My Ministers will get Britain building, including through planning reform, as they seek to accelerate the delivery of high-quality infrastructure and housing. They will also pursue sustainable growth by encouraging investment in industry, skills, and new technologies."

While we still await the actual details, we have been speaking extensively with civic societies since the initial announcements by Chancellor Reeves, which have now been followed up in the King’s Speech. Civic Voice Members are broadly supportive of the initially announcements but have fair questions about how the reforms might work in practice.

Accelerating Infrastructure and Housing Delivery

The commitment to streamlining the delivery process for critical infrastructure, including national grid upgrades and renewable energy initiatives, is a significant step forward. This approach not only supports local communities but also contributes to the 2030 clean mission and net zero obligations, securing energy security for the future. Simplifying the consenting process for major infrastructure projects and establishing a review process for National Policy Statements, to be updated every five years, will facilitate more timely and efficient development, benefiting both the economy and the environment. This legislation aims to "enhance the local planning system and accelerate the delivery of critical infrastructure and housing projects."

Martin Hamilton, Chair of Civic Voice, said: “Civic Voice accepts that we have a housing crisis. It is clear that substantial action is required to meet the ambitious target of 300,000 new homes annually. However, to achieve this goal we cannot rely solely on commercial housebuilders driven by market forces. We have a crisis for people on low incomes, with the wrong homes being built in the wrong locations, and we need to address affordability through substantial investment in social housing. We have not been building anywhere near 300,000 homes since the 1970s when local authorities were building homes. We do not see the private sector filling the gap that is needed. Ensuring that affordable housing is integrated into planning strategies is as crucial as investments in transportation or other critical infrastructure.”

Modernising Local Planning

Civic Voice supports the proposed Bill aimed at modernising local planning committees. By enhancing the capacity of local planning authorities, the Bill promises to deliver better services, ensuring more predictable and efficient decision-making for developers and investors. The Bill says that this modernisation is crucial for ensuring transparent and accountable planning processes that engage local communities effectively. If we are to delegate more decisions to officers to speed up decision-making, it is even more important that we have proper engagement with the public to know what is happening. Without this, we will continue to erode trust in the planning process.

Hamilton added: "We have heard that 300 planning officers will be appointed, and while welcome, our members have told us that this should just be the start. It equates to essentially one new officer per local authority. We hope these new planning officers possess the necessary skills to engage with communities effectively, rebuild trust in the planning process, and ensure that local voices are heard and respected."

We welcome the Government’s intention to use development as a means to fund nature recovery, aiming for positive outcomes for both the economy and the environment.

Empowering Local Communities

The English Devolution Bill's introduction of a strong new ‘right to buy’ for valued community assets is a transformative step. This measure will empower local communities to reclaim and revitalise empty shops, pubs, and community spaces, helping to rejuvenate high streets and eliminate the blight of vacant premises. Civic Voice believes in the power of community ownership and its potential to boost civic pride and social cohesion. Civic groups from Aldershot to Altrincham and Ilkley to Mitcham have been nominating Assets of Community Value, and many groups including Buxton, Chester, and Hunstanton own community assets, so they will welcome more powers for communities to take on local assets.

Hamilton finished by saying: "Civic Voice looks forward to hearing from its members on their thoughts regarding these announcements. It's crucial that our members—who are located in communities across the country—contribute their perspectives as we work with the Government to share your thoughts and ensure we get the best outcomes possible. We will be sending a survey to communities to understand more about your thoughts, and inviting Civic Voice members to a series of briefings and policy discussions on the announcements."

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