This is a marked departure from the largest revision of English planning rules over generations, which was pursued last year but was rejected following a backlash from rural Tory MPs.
The new initiative focuses on providing incentives for local communities and ensuring participation, as well as streamlining planning processes to alleviate developmental delays.
The “levy”, as ministers call it, already exists in some form, and projects now have to pay a sum to councils when they receive a building permit.
But ministers want the fee to be levied at the point of sale when the true price of the property is known, which could potentially bring in significantly more money for local infrastructure.
Government officials have yet to say how much more can be collected, but believe the change will stop developers from negotiating the amount they pay.
By increasing the financial benefits for local communities in the form of investments in schools and roads, we hope that more proposed projects will get the green light.
Another change will streamline the process by which developers prove that they have met environmental standards. Officials insisted the standards themselves would not be diluted.
Critics are likely to doubt whether the changes will lead to the gradual change in property construction that political parties of all brands have demanded.
Neighbors will also be allowed to hold referendums on the style and size of extensions, new homes and remodeling of their streets to allow housing development without full planning permission.
Street Voices is designed to encourage homeowners to add value to their properties.
Michael Gove, secretary for leveling and housing, said this would allow for “gentle compaction”, increase the number of people living in urban areas without changing the buildings on the list, or infiltrating the green belt.
Genetically modified crops
Laws allowing genetic editing of animals and crops have been welcomed by farmers as the UK seeks to free itself from EU regulation.
The decision could lead to “huge benefits for agriculture”, including making food more nutritious and less susceptible to disease, producers said.
The Precision Breeding Bill, outlined in the Queen’s speech, is designed to “remove unnecessary barriers inherited from the EU” and aims to boost food production in the UK.
“New precision breeding tools could help in a number of ways, from tackling pest and disease pressures on crops and livestock and improving animal health and welfare, to increasing the resilience of farmers in the event of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts, “said David Exwood, vice president of the National Farmers’ Union.
Gene editing does not involve the introduction of DNA from species other than GM, and is thought to pose a lower risk than some scientists. It allows, for example, the breeding of animals that are resistant to disease.
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