MPs to hold inquiry into local planning process

MPs have announced they will consider recommendations aimed at streamlining local planning processes.

The local plans expert group, set up by the government last year, issued a report containing 47 recommendations for action in March.

It called for less frequent changes to the way planning is regulated, saying the National Planning Policy Framework should be reviewed only once every five years and guidance should be issued about every six months.

Now the communities and local government committee has launched ‘a short inquiry’ into the recommendations and examine how the government intends to take them forward.

Chair Clive Betts, said: ‘The local plans expert group concluded that substantial reform of the local plan-making process was required and made detailed recommendations for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of local plan making.

‘The committee will consider these…