Housebuilders and social housing organisations have largely welcomed the government’s latest package of planning reforms confirmed today.

 The government will this afternoon table its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which contains provisions to curtail the role of council planning committees in approving development and introduce a new strategic planning system. It also includes plans for a Nature Restoration Fund, reforms to compulsory purchase rules, new powers for development corporations to facilitate new towns and streamlining of planning for large infrastructure projects.