Letter to the Housing Minister: Removal of Statutory Consultees

Decisions about how homes are planned and approved will shape our environment, safety and communities for generations. That is why I have co-signed a letter to the Minister for Housing and Communities in response to the Government’s consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system.

Expert bodies such as the Environment Agency, the Gardens Trust and Sport England play a vital role in ensuring new developments are safe, sustainable and properly assessed. The Government’s proposals risk weakening these safeguards, particularly in relation to flood risk, heritage protection and the loss of playing fields, at a time when climate change and environmental decline are already placing communities under increasing pressure.

Through this letter, we are calling for the Government to:

• Retain strong statutory consultee roles for expert bodies that protect flood safety, heritage assets and community infrastructure
• Reject proposals that prioritise development speed over public safety, environmental protection and long-term sustainability
• Ensure that planning decisions continue to be informed by independent, specialist expertise rather than narrow pro-development criteria
• Maintain clear national oversight where developments conflict with expert advice, particularly on flood risk
• Protect irreplaceable community assets, including historic parks, gardens and playing fields, from inappropriate development

I support the delivery of new homes and a more efficient planning system, but this must not come at the expense of expert scrutiny, environmental protection or community wellbeing.

Please see the letter attached below.