The long awaited Planning White Paper was finally published on 6 August 2020 for consultation which, as promised, proposes radical changes to the current planning system that are not short of ambition.

This is not the first time in living memory that a Government has proposed a “fundamental overhaul” of the planning system and comes hot on the heels of the radical changes to the Use Class Order last month with the much greater flexibility to “give businesses greater freedom to adapt to changing circumstances” which kicks in on 1 September. Whilst it is a clear statement of intent to advance a Conservative Party manifesto commitment, previous attempts at radical reform are almost invariably watered down when the reality of unintended consequence becomes apparent through the consultation exercise.