The Government is considering revoking England's regional spatial strategies ahead of legislation and will also be reviewing some elements of the local development framework system too.
Elements of the new Government's planning policy have emerged in a series of Commons written answers which reveal it is not yet ready to recommence consultations on major policy changes, not seen since the election.
Planning minister Bob Neill told Banbury MP Tony Baldry the Government does intend to abolish planning policy statements and replace them with a simple and consolidated national planning framework for all forms of development. He said the Government also intends giving neighbourhoods more ability to determine the places where their inhabitants live.
"In the light of this we will review some elements of the local development framework system to ensure it reflects our policy on decentralisation and a simpler planning system," he said.
He also said regional strategies would be abolished in the Localism Bill but the Government had received representations from house builders and from the Home Builders' Federation regarding implications for house building.
In a separate answer, communities minister Andrew Stunnell said an announcement on the implications of allowing local authorities to retain council tax receipts from new homes would be made at the earliest opportunity.
In a another answer, Mr Neill said the policies in the emerging RSS for the South West carry little weight.
However, a separate answer by environment minister Richard Beynon mentioned consultation in planning for virtually the first time since the election. He said governance arrangements for national parks would be reviewed shortly and he would be writing to chairs of national parks on the issue.
