Councils given new powers over house planning

Housing Minister Dominic Raab has announced new powers for local authorities to aid them in delivering the homes their communities need.

Under the proposed regulations, councils will be able to seek government’s approval to launch a New Town Development Corporation, which will then be accountable for delivering new towns and garden communities in their area, including master planning and project development, bringing on board private investment, partnering with developers and overseeing the completion of a new town or garden village. Each will be expected to deliver tens of thousands of new homes.

The corporations, who will involve communities in their projects, will be led by teams made up of council representatives, community stakeholders, experts in delivering major projects and other partner organisations involved in the delivery of sites.

All New Town Development Corporations were previously created by the Secretary of State and remained accountable to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Raab said: “We need to build the homes our communities need and I’m committed to giving councils the tools they need to deliver. That’s why we’re giving councils the option of applying to establish development corporations. These will be locally accountable and must listen to the views of the community to ensure that the right homes are built in the right places.”