"It's a missed opportunity," said Gleeson Homes managing director Clive Wilding. "Nobody appears to be picking up the planning baton. We keep talking about joined-up thinking but there's not a lot taking place in long-term planning strategy. I would have liked to have seen a minister for strategic planning."
Wilding was unimpressed by the arrival of Lord Falconer of Thoroton. "It's ironic that a minister saddled, whether rightly or wrongly, with the Dome, a prime example of bad planning, should now be responsible for improving planning."
Others in the housebuilding industry have however suggested Lord Falconer's tenacity in forcing the Dome to fruition could be applied to take on Conservative councils currently dragging their heels in meeting housebuilding targets.
Responsibility for housing could now effectively be split between three Government departments. The construction industry and Regional Development Agencies are under the control of the Department of Trade and Industry, led by Patricia Hewitt.
The Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) headed by Stephen Byers takes responsibility for Building Regulations, housing and planning. Green and rural issues are dealt with by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), headed by Margaret Beckett.
"It's regrettable that housing has been split into three responsibilities as it means policies will be less focused," said Nigel Moor, Planning director at RPS Consultants.
"We will have to see the how the overlap between departments works out in practice," said Martin Leyland, strategic land director with Wilcon Homes. "We need the new make-up to add velocity to the development process."
While Nick Raynsford will be missed, Leyland said his move to minister for local government could be positive. "He had been at the forefront of educating our industry. If he could transfer that to local government it will be a big step forward."
Source
Building Homes
