Ministers ‘to ditch overhaul of planning laws’ after criticism

According to reports, plans will be abandoned in light of backlash from southern voters and MPs

The government is reportedly backpedalling on its commitment to overhaul planning laws in order to accelerate infrastructure projects with a target of building 300,000 homes a year in England.

Part of the government's Project Speed", the new planning laws were announced in the Queen's speech with the target of modernising and simplifying the system and increasing the number of homes being planned by more than a third.