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PLANNING

Queen's Speech: New law to 'modernise' planning system

The Government has pledged to push ahead with reforms to the planning system in order to meet housebuilding targets.

The Government has pledged to push ahead with reforms to the planning system in order to meet housebuilding targets.

Under the reforms, councils will use a zoning system to assign growth, protection or renewal zones in their local plans.

In growth areas, automatic planning permission will be given to developments that meet certain criteria, replacing the current system of deciding planning permission on a case-by-case basis.

The Queen said: 'Laws to modernise the planning system so that more homes can be built will be brought forward.'

Today's speech also included a new building safety law to ensure a tragedy like Grenfell was 'never repeated'.

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