POS Response to Standard Planning Agreements in England

20 October 2026

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POS response to consultation on Standard Planning Agreements for medium sized sites

 

POS supports the Government’s objective of reducing delays and complexity in the use of Section 106 agreements but argues that a standardised template alone will not deliver meaningful reform. In its response to the consultation on standard planning agreements for medium-sized sites, POS calls for a more fundamental legislative approach that standardises planning obligations through secondary legislation, introduces mechanisms to resolve negotiation deadlocks, and reforms affordable housing and infrastructure delivery arrangements. While broadly supporting many of the draft clauses proposed in the consultation, POS emphasises the need for a more efficient, practical and legally robust system that reduces unnecessary negotiation, provides greater certainty for applicants and local planning authorities, and maximises the delivery of affordable housing and essential infrastructure. This position builds on a series of longstanding POS policy papers aimed at creating a more effective and deliverable planning system.
Our response can be downloaded below