Review of planning receives further welcome

The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has welcomed the news that the government is to review the planning system in a bid to cut red tape and speed up the planning process.

It has also announced the setting up of its own body - known as the Rural Practice Forum - to seek action to help those trying to get on the housing ladder in rural areas.

Spokesman for the forum Ricahrd Copus said: "I live in a small village and I have young people come crying to me because they can't afford to live in the village they grew up in."

He added that many seek to buy in neighbouring villages, which in turn puts extra pressure on the supply of homes there.

Mr Copus suggested that without fast action many would leave the areas they grew up in "in desperation to find an affordable home".

Those not wishing to wait for changes to planning rules and who want to stay in their local area may wish to explore the alternative strategy of self build.

Giving its own response to the news of the consultation, the Federation of Master Builders' director of external affairs Brian Berry said the current rules amounted to a level of "bureaucracy" that Sir Humphrey Appleby (the fictional civil servant in the TV series Yes Minister) would be "proud" of creating.


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