Inland launches petition for compulsory planning committee member training and qualifications
Inland Homes has today launched a petition to campaign for changes to the planning system to make it compulsory for planning committee members to receive planning training and for at least 50% to have a formal qualification.
It is essential that planning committee members are equipped with the skills needed to be able to assess planning applications which have become increasingly complex and detailed since the committee structure was introduced over 50 years ago.
In a video released with the campaign, Inland Homes highlights a recent application for 50 new homes that was rejected by planning committee despite being on a site allocated within the adopted Local Plan for 50 homes and compliant with all relevant planning policies and standards. 48% of the homes on site were to be delivered as affordable homes and the planning officers were recommending approval of the application.
“The planning system is failing in its current form and urgent reform is needed in order to alleviate the current housing crisis,” said Chief Executive Officer Stephen Wicks. “But if planning reform is also to work, urgent attention also needs to be given to the people charged with implementing that reform."
“Too often we see policy compliant schemes, recommended for approval by planning officers, arbitrarily rejected at committee hearing. While appeal usually results in these decisions being overturned, each delay slows our ability to address the ongoing shortage of critically needed affordable homes.
“Others across the industry are experiencing the same frustrations and we urge them to add their name to the petition and join our campaign today.”