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The Government’s recent White Paper for Housing makes it clear
that the current planning system with its ‘plan led’ approach will
remain a key element in the delivery of housing growth. However,
in an attempt to speed the process, later this spring we’ll see the
introduction of Permission in Principle (PiP); a new ‘third way’ of
achieving planning permission.
PiP – the new ‘ThirdWay’
By Ian Anderson,
Planning and
Development
Consultancy
I
t is fair to say that the Government’s
recent White Paper for Housing
met with a mixed reception across
the industry. It acknowledged
that the market is ‘broken’ and
also recognised the importance of
the rental sector in lieu of home
ownership, but many of the big
issues were not addressed.
Gavin Barwell, Minister of State for
Housing and Planning, has a mantra
that says you can’t live in a planning
permission. This holds true at face
value but, unless future housing
provision is to be made entirely of
reoccupied commercial and other
permitted development changes, the
current planning system will remain
central to the delivery of housing
growth.
To its credit, the Government
continues to seek ways of speeding
the processes. In the past two
years we have seen reform on
further extended permitted
development rights, simplifying
pre-commencement requirements
and the express discharge of
conditions. Later this spring,
and perhaps even more radical,
Permission in Principle (PiP) will be
introduced specifically for housing-
led developments as a new ‘third way’
of achieving planning permission.
PiP explained
At the moment, planning permission
can be applied for either in ‘outline’,
followed by an application for
PERSPECTIVES
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