Thank you for contacting me about the newly announced planning reforms.

Our planning system needs to work for those who use it, to make sure new homes, businesses and vital infrastructure are not held back by outdated, complicated and time-consuming bureaucracy. It takes an average of five years for an application for residential development to go through the planning system before building can even begin. This cannot be right for our communities who want home to live in, places to work and schools and hospitals built and to be honest, it is not even fair on those who oppose individual projects, as the whole process takes far too long.

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The 'Planning for the Future' consultation is now open to the public. You can submit your views here.