Planning Reform Working Paper: Reforming Site Thresholds
This paper explores how different site sizes should be treated within the planning system and invites views on reforming site thresholds through a gradated approach to the system as a whole.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The government is committed to getting Britain building again. This paper forms part of a series of working papers on different aspects of planning reform, designed to inform further policy development in collaboration with the wider sector.
It proposes options for reforming site thresholds within the planning system. This would introduce a gradated approach, with 3 separate thresholds: minor, medium and major. The paper explores how different site sizes should be treated within the planning system and proposes streamlining disproportionate requirements on small and medium sites, while maintaining and strengthening requirements on major development.
Contact
For any enquiries about this working paper, please contact: SiteThresholds@communities.gov.uk.
How to respond
Please note that this is not a formal consultation and is instead intended to inform discussions with the sector, to determine whether and how to take these proposals forward. Alongside these discussions, we welcome responses to the series of questions that are posed at the end of the paper. Please note that we have set a deadline for responses to be submitted to this working paper by 9 July 2025.
Citizen Space is the department’s preferred route for receiving responses. We strongly encourage responses to be made via Citizen Space, particularly from organisations with access to online facilities such as local planning authorities, representative bodies and businesses.
Using Citizen Space greatly assists our analysis of responses, enabling more efficient and effective consideration of the issues raised.
Planning Reform Working Paper: Reforming Site Thresholds
If you cannot respond via Citizen Space, send your response by email to: SiteThresholds@communities.gov.uk
Written responses should be sent to:
Planning Policy Consultation Team Planning Directorate
Planning Policy Division
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Floor 3 , Fry Building
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
When you respond, it would be very useful if you can confirm whether you are replying as an individual or submitting an official response on behalf of an organisation and include:
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your name
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the name of your organisation (if applicable)
Please make it clear which question each comment relates to and ensure that the text of your response is in a format that allows copying of individual sentences or paragraphs, to help us when considering your view on particular issues.