Will Boris Johnson water down his planning reforms to head off a backbench rebellion?
This week, we look at the UK government’s plan to overhaul the planning system. How realistic are their proposals and why are residents and backbench Tory MPs increasingly concerned?
1 minute to read
Anna is joined by David Cooper, planning specialist and lawyer, best known for his involvement with Arsenal FC's move from Highbury to Holloway, as well as Knight Frank co-head of residential development, Justin Gaze.
This week, Tory backbenchers warned Boris Johnson that plans to scale down the controversial reforms will not be enough to avoid a large-scale rebellion. Nearly 100 heave threatened to rebel by voting against the proposals in the autumn. Some Conservative MPS also fear that planning reform may have cost them the Chesham and Amersham by-election in June.
David and Justin share their views on the overhaul and explore why criticism is building. They also discuss alternative solutions to the housing crisis - from building new settlements, to releasing more greenfield land and investing in infrastructure and boosting funding for local authority planning departments.