Planning fees will be localised and it will be easier for councils to purchase vacant land for house building, under proposals in the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
However, councillors will have to undergo mandatory training and certification to sit on planning committees, and a national delegation scheme will set out which planning decisions they will consider and which will be decided by officers.
Cllr Adam Hug, the LGA’s Housing and Planning Spokesperson, said: “This bill has included some of the LGA’s long-term asks, such as making it easier for councils to purchase vacant land for housebuilding, localising planning fees, and increasing planning capacity.
“These will speed up the planning process and ease the building of new homes and necessary infrastructure.
“However, there remain concerns around how the bill will ensure that councils – who know their areas best and what they need – remain at the heart of the planning process.
“The democratic role of councillors in decision-making is the backbone of the English planning system, and this should not be diminished. Councils approve nine out of 10 planning applications that come before them.”