MPs to take evidence on the review of planning practice

• Parliament TV live
• Inquiry page: Planning, review of technical guidance
• Terms of reference
• Communities and Local Government Committee

Witnesses

4.30 pm

• Nick Boles MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department for Communities and Local Government
• Lord Taylor of Goss Moor, led the External Review of Government Planning Practice Guidance

Following today’s announcement that the Government plans to relax planning rules to allow easier change of use from offices to dwellings, the Committee will question planning minister, Nick Boles, about the change when he appears before the Committee on Wednesday, 30 January.

Commenting ahead of the session, CLG Committee Chair, Clive Betts MP said, “The announcement made on 24 January made plain the Government intends to make it much easier for developers to transform vacant offices into residential property. The Committee wants to hear in detail how the process will work. We need to know what effect the change will have on town centres, infrastructure and local services such as public transport, parking and schools.”

Nick Boles was scheduled to appear on 30 January with Lord Taylor of Goss Moor, Chair of the External Review of Planning Practice Guidance, to answer the Committee’s questions about the Government’s review being undertaken to rationalise planning guidance. The session will now cover both the review of technical guidance and the relaxation in the rules on offices.

Further information:

• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Select Committees