Concerns have been raised over the Government’s Community Right to Build plans, which will be central to the forthcoming Localism Bill. The Right to Build aims to give communities the power to deliver new housing and development without the need for planning permission, as long as there is overwhelming community support in a local referendum. The plans aim to ensure that any surplus made from the sale or renting of homes would be recycled for the benefit of the community. Under the Right to Build, community organisations could also choose to build sheltered housing, or set aside plots for people to build their own homes, or offer long-term, low rent deals for local shops, community halls or sports facilities.

However, both the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) have expressed concerns about the proposals. Fiona Howie, Head of Planning at CPRE, said: ‘The level and location of development should be informed by a proper assessment of local housing need and an understanding of whether the local environment can accommodate more development. This capacity should be accessed through democratic local plans and not a simple public ballot.’

Jamie Hodge, spokesperson for the RTPI, said: ‘Proper planning scrutiny has served us well, whereas this proposal appears to disempower local authorities by removing their right to determine development proposals and may mean that new housing built as a result may conflict with existing wider community priorities, and will only have to meet nationally prescribed minimum standards, even if the local authority wishes to see higher design standards in its own area.’

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