Beautiful buildings and spaces should be the planning ‘norm’
Housing Minister Robert Jenrick is considering creating a fast-track planning process for “beautiful buildings and spaces”. He said well-designed, high quality homes and tree-lined streets should be the “norm not the exception” following the publication of the final report from The Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission.
The Living with Beauty report was led by the late Sir Roger Scruton and Nicolas Boys Smith and made more than 130 recommendations including: planting millions of trees over the next five years; speeding up the planning process for beautiful buildings; and using digital technology to help local people shape their own built environment.
Jenrick said: “I want to see zero-carbon homes built as standard within five years as we learn again how our built and natural environments can work in harmony. The report is right that local authorities will need to play a leading role in this design revolution. We will need to ensure they have the right skills and leadership to fully carry out their role as place-makers.”
