Buckinghamshire Warns National Planning Changes Could Fast‑Track 1.5 Million Homes

Context The government has pledged to deliver 1.5 million new homes this Parliament through a housing surge and planning overhaul. Senior councillor Peter Strachan told the council’s cabinet that proposals would automatically refer any application for over 150 houses to the Secretary of State. He also noted plans to shrink planning committees and let smaller schemes be decided by delegated powers, aiming to speed up house building.

Key Facts - The government’s target is 1.5 million homes this Parliament, delivered via a major housing surge and planning overhaul that includes mandatory housing targets for councils. - Under the proposed changes, applications for developments exceeding 150 houses would be sent straight to the Secretary of State, bypassing local committees and removing a layer of local scrutiny. - A petition has been launched urging Buckinghamshire Council to protect green belt land and productive farmland across the county, arguing that these areas are vital for biodiversity and food security.

What It Means Developers could see faster approvals for large projects because central government would take the decision‑making role, reducing reliance on local committees. Local residents worry that loosening green belt rules may lead to loss of protected countryside and agricultural land, affecting wildlife habitats and farming livelihoods. The council says it will monitor the proposals, keep residents informed, and consider the petition’s demands in its future planning policy.

What to watch next Watch for the council’s response to the petition, any formal government guidance on the referral threshold, and how Buckinghamshire’s planning committee size may change in the coming months. The outcome could shape whether large housing schemes move faster or face more local scrutiny, influencing the pace of the 1.5‑million‑home target.