HBA: SMEs must be at the core of Government planning reform
National Federation of Builders
The House Builders Association responds to the Queen's Speech.
The Queen set out the Government’s legislative programme for the coming parliamentary year.
The Government has pledged to simplify the planning system and give local communities more power and control. The Neighbourhood Planning and Infrastructure Bill will streamline pre-commencement planning conditions to speed up developments and stimulate house building. The Government will also make the National Infrastructure Commission a permanent body and privatize the Land Registry.
The Government will also introduce legislation that will enable local authorities to retain al the proceeds of their business rates. Directly-elected mayors will be able to franchise and manage local bus services.
Rico Wojtulewicz, policy advisor for the HBA, said: “We support the Government’s plans to simplify the planning system and increase investment across local communities. We hope that these policies will have SMEs at their core. SMEs are vital to regional development and represent a sound financial investment. SMEs return 90p in local area spending for every £1 invested in them.”
