Planning Neighbourhoods
The Act introduces a new neighbourhood planning tool called a "neighbourhood priorities statement". This will provide communities with a simpler and more accessible way to set out their key priorities and preferences for their local areas. Local authorities will need to take these into account, where relevant, when preparing their local plans for the areas concerned, enabling more communities to better engage in the local plan-making process. Alongside this, the Act will also prescribe in more detail what communities can address in their neighbourhood plans and amend the ‘basic conditions’ to ensure neighbourhood plans are aligned with wider changes to the planning system.
	The Act introduces a new planning consent regime that enables residents to propose development on their street and, subject to the proposal meeting certain requirements, to vote on whether that development should be given planning permission. This is intended to encourage residents to consider the potential for additional development on their streets, and support a gentle increase in densities, in particular, in areas where additional new homes are needed.
	The Act amends the Self-build and Custom Housebuilding Act 2015 to ensure that only planning permission made available explicitly for self-build and custom housebuilding qualifies towards the ‘duty to grant planning permission etc’ and is counted to meet the demand for self and custom build. This will enable relevant authorities to meet their statutory duties in a more consistent and focused manner.