What can we expect from Reform UK on Planning?
On the 7th of May some 5,014 council seats across 136 councils are up for election. The only certainty is the Tories and Labour will both have a bad election.
The Greens and the LibDems will have a fantastic election, and they will be taking large numbers of seats and control of many Councils.
But what about Reform?
Reform’s polling is fluctuating a bit, but they too will have a good election. Some patches in London may go Reform (Bromley, Bexley, Havering etc.) but their real impact will be felt in the Midlands and the North where they are set to make substantial gains.
What will Reform be like when they take power?
Reform is only controlling four Planning Committees so far, Durham, Doncaster, West and North Northamptonshire. We have had applications determined positively in three of them (so please call me if you have a site in Doncaster!) In fact, one of them was a solar project.
What is even more interesting is that the two Northants Councils are making really remarkable and speedy progress on the Local Plans. North Northamptonshire Council voted on 20 January to progress its emerging Local Plan under the new plan-making system (the one introduced by the Labour Government… that many LibDem and Labour Councils are fighting against).
West Northamptonshire Council is running a consultation from 29 January to 27 March on their Regulation 18 draft Local Plan, which includes a 1,000-home railway station allocation that had been removed from an earlier draft. The site was added back after the Council’s housing need shot up by 20 per cent under the 2024 NPPF.
Ultimately, many of the Reform Councillors are former Conservatives and they are positioning themselves as the viable capitalist alternative to the Conservative Party.
Their policies are still evolving but their current policies include:
"Brownfield Passports": Fast-track planning approval for development on brownfield sites to increase supply.
"Loose Fit" Planning: Allowing more flexible, simplified planning regulations to increase development speed on larger sites.
Rebuilding Urban Areas: Prioritising redevelopment of high-street shops and offices.
Raise Stamp Duty Threshold: Abolish Stamp Duty on all properties below £750,000 to stimulate movement and help buyers.
Locals First Policy: Amend housing allocation laws to prioritize UK nationals and local residents for social housing.
All very interesting stuff, but the proof will be in the pudding… There have also been a lot of bad headlines and frankly, complete chaos in some places.
We are continuingly monitoring Reform UK activities and there is definitely a pattern emerging of a Party that is not against private development. But this will, like with the Greens and LibDems vary greatly. The reality is that Reform UK fighting Tories will be a very different Party from Reform UK fighting Labour.
Until next week,
Henry
07736121014