Response to Government Plans to change planing rules
In response to yesterday’s speech on housing and planning from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, London Assembly Labour’s Planning Spokesperson, Sakina Sheikh AM said:
"Yesterday’s speech from Michael Gove shows us that this Government does not have the solutions to tackle the housing crisis.
“Proposals to convert retail units to residential would undermine our high streets and result in poor quality housing.
“If this happens under Permitted Development Rights then there will be no obligation for affordable housing, not to mention it would bypass local democratic decision making.
"This move would change the fabric of our high streets, undermining the economic recovery still desperately needed post pandemic. Imagine a block of residential flats in the middle of Oxford Street.
“We need to see a wholesale strategy for dealing with the housing crisis and the Secretary of State’s plans barely touches the edges. If he wants to see what bold action on housebuilding looks like, then take a page out of the London Mayor's programmes which has seen the most homes built for decades, including the most council homes since the 1970’s.
"Back to the drawing board Mr Gove."