The Construction Leadership Council (CLC) has called for the creation of a so called ‘fourth zone’ to unlock potential regeneration opportunities that have been blocked by existing planning rules.

The CLC’s recommendations came in response to the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government Planning for the Future consultation. The consultation, which closed last week, identifies three types of land use: 

Growth: where development will be promoted with automatic outline approval for appropriate development;

Renewal: where some development can occur;

Protected: where development is restricted.

The CLC’s proposed ‘fourth zone’ sites would set long-term growth objectives, would not be constrained by an initial outline plan and would build on the government’s commitment to level-up parts of the country where regeneration would deliver on real social and economic outcomes.

The CLC response also calls for:

• Robust strategic planning at ‘larger-than-local’ level;
• Investment in digitisation of the planning process on a wider level;
• A renewed commitment to design quality which would consider the wider local social and economic outcomes such as employment, infrastructure and how the development sits within a local community;
• A consolidated infrastructure levy that is sensitive to local area viability, can be used flexibly and is dedicated to securing local social and economic infrastructure;
• Properly resourcing local authorities to deliver their planning functions;
• Avoiding any hiatus in work when transitioning to new reformed system. 

The CLC’s response has been prepared by its Local, Social and Commercial (LSC), and Housing working groups. 

LSC co-chair Paul Reilly said: “As we emerge from Covid-19 the planning system can act as a significant accelerator of economic recovery if it can unlock appropriate development. Our proposals for a fourth planning zone would unleash the potential of regeneration sites nationwide.”

Housing chair John Slaughter said: “A commitment from government to universal coverage of simplified local plans, adopted within clear timescales, and which plan positively for development will play a key part in delivering the 300,000 homes a year we need. We look forward to working with government on the details of these important planning reforms.”