Growth and Infrastructure Bill: Committee Stage Report

This is a report on the House of Commons Committee Stage of the Growth and Infrastructure Bill. It complements Research Paper 12/61 prepared for Commons Second Reading. The date for Report Stage and Third Reading is 17 December 2012.

Significant areas of debate at Committee Stage included: proposals to allow applications for planning permission to go direct to the Planning Inspectorate; the renegotiation of affordable housing planning obligations; postponement of a planned revaluation of business rates; and on the proposed new employment status of employee-owner.

Some substantive Government amendments were made to the Bill on clause 5, the modification or discharge of affordable housing requirements. Two new clauses were added by the Government to the Bill: new clause 3 to remove the requirement for Planning Act 2008 consent and certification that currently needs to be acquired alongside development consent; and new clause 14 on prior approvals related to permitted development right change of use. The Government also made a number of technical amendments.