Responding to today’s speech on planning in England by the Housing Secretary Michael Gove, Jonny Haseldine, Policy Manager at the British Chambers of Commerce said: 

“Reform of the planning system in England is crucial to boosting investment and driving economic growth. It is disappointing therefore that the Secretary of State’s speech made limited mention of business.  

“Our policy document, published in September, called for more resources for local authority planning teams and more focus on the supply of land for business use. Every day the firms we represent are struggling because of a slow and complex system.  

“Successful companies are at heart of local communities. The planning system must achieve the right balance of land for jobs and homes. It is not either or.”