The Chartered Institute of Housing has called on councils to draw up another strategic plan to ensure that housing policy fits in with local planning aims.
The demand is made in the CIH's Planning for Housing document, published on 19 June, but many fear it will simply add to bureaucracy.

Merron Simpson, author of the report, said councils should create a action plan to ensure housing and planning strategy fit together.

Simpson said too many councils show a dislocation between the two areas. She said: "By drawing on the spatial and investment elements of planning with those of housing it will require them to work better together."

The CIH is lobbying the government to include the plan in the Local Government Bill and the delayed Planning Bill. If it does, the plan will form part of a council's "fit for purpose" test.

Simpson said it would not add to bureaucracy, merely force departments to talk to each other.

Liz Willis, policy officer at the National Housing Federation, said: "We see the HAP as a delivery vehicle to implement the Planning Bill. It plugs a gap."

But Robin Tetlow, managing director of Tetlow King Planning, said: "Do we need yet another plan or strategy? The Communities Plan within councils should already do this. Quite honestly, we've got enough documents already."

Gywneth Taylor, programme manager for the Local Government Association, said: "We need to improve joint working between the planning and housing departments, but will another plan or strategy do this? The plans we already have to produce should be made to dovetail."

Source

Housing Today