I recently held an open meeting in Harbertonford, where local residents joined me to discuss local and national issues. Topics of conversation included the state of Devon’s roads, planning rules including the use of solar panels, the development at Baltic Wharf, South Devon Primary and the National Insurance cut.
Below is further information about some of the points that were discussed.
Planning and development rules
The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act is modernising the planning system for the 21st century and giving residents a louder voice to ensure that development reflects community preferences. The reforms give local plans more weight and speed up the plan-making process. I believe that placing greater weight on local plans and national policy will not only give communities more certainty that the right homes will be built in the right places but will also give more assurance that areas of environmental importance will be respected in decisions on planning applications and appeals.
The new legislation puts communities at its heart. It includes a requirement for local planning authorities to produce design codes for their areas, which will have full weight in planning decision making. The Levelling Up and Regeneration Act also makes clear the Government's ambition for a digital planning system that is underpinned by standardised and open planning data. I believe digitising the planning system will make it easier for communities to access the system and help groups typically underrepresented in planning decisions to make their voices heard in their area.
Another key reform included in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act is the powers it introduces for a new Infrastructure Levy to ensure communities have the schools, GP surgeries and roads that they need. The levy will be set locally to allow local authorities to tailor it to local circumstances. The Government recently undertook a technical consultation on the detail of the Infrastructure Levy. I understand that the Government is currently analysing feedback from this consultation.
As discussed during the meeting, I believe developers’ contributions should not just be used to improve and maintain roads within the new development’s immediate vicinity, but should also be used to look after access roads which may be further afield.
Renewable energy
The Government is committed to reaching its target to eliminate the UK's contribution to climate change by achieving net zero by 2050. I believe that solar power is a key building block in ensuring that we meet this target.
Government guidance encourages local planning authorities to focus on using previously developed land and non-agricultural land for large scale solar farm development, so long as the land is not of high environmental value. Given that many solar farms are temporary structures, local planning authorities are also advised to ensure that land is restored to its previous use.
Ministers have been clear that extensive development of rooftop solar on domestic, industrial and commercial property to make effective use of available surfaces is a priority. In November 2023, the Government announced that it will expand permitted development rights to ensure more homeowners and businesses can install solar panels on their roofs without going through the planning system. The changes will mean homes with flat roofs will be able to install panels without planning permission, bringing rules in line with those for businesses. Reforms will also make it easier for solar panels to be installed in canopies above car parks, if they are over ten meters away from people's homes. In addition, the Government will scrap current rules that require businesses to apply for planning permission if solar panels will generate more than one megawatt of electricity.
While I believe that rooftop solar has an important role to play in helping us decarbonise the power sector, it is worth noting that the suitability of solar panels on rooftops is limited by the type of building and its location around the country. Some roofs are not suitable for solar panels due to structural strength or the direction of the building.
Renewable energy production is currently limited by the size of the grid. At the end of 2023, the cumulative installed capacity of solar power in the UK was 15.7 GW. The government aims to achieve 70 GW of solar power by 2035.
National Insurance
Reducing employee and self-employed National Insurance is the best way to target working people, supporting growth and making the tax system fairer.
That is why the Government cut National Insurance contributions (NICs) for 29 million workers at Autumn Statement 2023 and is building on this by making a further cut worth over £10 billion a year for workers across the UK. It will cut the main rate of employee NICs by 2p from 10 per cent to 8 per cent from 6 April 2024. Combined with the 2p cut announced at Autumn Statement 2023, this will save the average worker on £35,400 over £900 a year.
The main rate of self-employed NICs will also be cut by a further 2p, on top of the 1p cut announced at Autumn Statement 2023. This means that from 6 April 2024, the main rate of Class 4 NICs for the self-employed will now be reduced from 9 per cent to 6 per cent. Combined with the abolition of the requirement to pay Class 2, this will save an average self-employed person on £28,000 around £650 a year. Cutting NICs rates does not affect anyone’s entitlement to the State Pension or contributory benefits.
As well as cutting taxes, the Government is also reducing borrowing. The independent Office for Budget Responsibility confirms that the Government is on track to meet its fiscal rules on both debt and borrowing. Inflation has fallen from 11.1 to 3.8 per cent, the economy has done better than forecast, wages are rising, and mortgage rates are starting to come down.
I am aware that people are concerned about the impact on public services, but beyond this Spending Review period, departmental spending will be the highest it has ever been. Total departmental spending will be around £86 billion higher in real terms by 2028-29 than at the start of the Parliament. The Government is ensuring it gets the most out of every taxpayer's pound spent, delivering the high-quality public services the public expects while increasing productivity through its Public Sector Productivity Programme.