Government to strip councils of final say on major housing schemes and give automatic ‘yes’ to developments near transport hubs

The government has announced a packet of planning changes which weaken local councils’ ability to block development and make it easier to build near train stations.

Under proposed changes, councils in England will have to tell the government when they intend to reject new housing developments of 150 homes or more, with the housing secretary having the final say on whether they should go ahead.

The government said particular attention would be paid to cases where planning committees intend to contradict the advice of planning officers. The mandatory requirement for inquiries for called-in applications will be removed, with the option to consider matters through written representations.

Meanwhile, housebuilding near well-connected train stations could receive planning permission by default if they meet certain rules, including minimum housing density standards.

“I promised we’d get Britain building and that’s exactly what we are doing,” he said. But it has to be the right homes in the right places and nearby transport links are a vital part of that.

“We’re making it easier to build well-connected and high-quality homes, using stronger powers to speed things up if councils drag their feet, and proposing to streamline the consultation process to cut back delays.”

The government said builders would be encouraged to build homes near these transport links and it is working on its own plans for such development through Platform4, an initiative to build up to 40,000 homes on surplus railway land.

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Network Rail launched the property company earlier this year and already has four sites earmarked, including Newcastle Forth Goods Yard and Manchester Mayfield.

Its announcement regarding transit-adjacent development comes on the back of the findings of its exploration into brownfield passports, which sought to establish what kind of development could be given a default “yes” in the planning process.

The government has also today launched a consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system.

The proposals would remove Sport England, The Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust from the list of organisations that have to be consulted by law in the planning process.