Former Conservative minister Nick Boles reportedly in line to be made Labour planning tsar

The new Labour government has reportedly approached a former Conservative minister to help shape its proposals to change the UK’s planning system.

According to the Guardian, Nick Boles could be involved in Labour’s review of the National Planning Policy Framework as a “planning tsar”.

This morning, Rachel Reeves announced that the government plans to reform the NPPF, with a consultation set to take place by the end of the month. Labour is proposing to restore mandatory local housing targets among a suite of reforms intended to deliver 1.5 million new homes over five years.

Boles, who was a planning minister in David Cameron’s coalition government and later minister for skills, switched his allegiance from the Conservative Party to Labour in late 2022, shortly after Liz Truss’ ill-fated mini-budget.

Rumours of his appointment to government come as Keir Starmer’s new cabinet begin to put together their departmental teams.

In the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, new housing secretary Angela Rayner has already announced the appointment of Matthew Pennycook as housing minister.

In her speech this morning, Reeves said Rayner would write to local authorities to make clear that local plans and green belt reviews are expected, with priority given to brownfield and grey-belt development.

The shadow chancellor also re-stated that local authorities would be supported with 300 new planning officers, which was a manifesto pledge, and announced the creation of a new taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites.

This taskforce will begin with Liverpool Central Docks, Northstowe, Langley Sutton Coalfield, and Worcester Parkway, which together would account for more than 14,000 homes.

DLUHC has been approached for comment.