The Planning Minister Brandon Lewis has launched a new panel of experts to help streamline and simplify the local plan-making process, thus reducing the time it takes local councils to get plans in place.
It is hoped that the panel, which includes representatives from local authorities, developers, the legal industry and the Planning Inspectorate, will provide greater certainty to communities regarding plans for new homes and infrastructure in their area, while speeding up the planning process for developers. The panel members are:
1. John Rhodes of planning consultants Quod;
2. Adrian Penfold from developers British Land;
3. Richard Harwood QC from legal firm 39 Essex Chambers;
4. Councillor Toby Elliott from Swindon Borough Council;
5. Keith Holland, a retired Senior Planning Inspector;
6. Liz Peace, formerly of the British Property Federation;
7. John Howell MP, member for Henley; and
8. Derek Stebbing, Local Authority Plans Manager for Chelmsford City Council.
The panel are considering all aspects of the local plan-making process and will submit their recommendations to the Government in the New Year.
