Ten of the biggest stories from the past week, including news that the government has hired two consultancies to help them decide whether to take over local plan production at the three councils facing intervention.

Multi-disciplinary firm AECOM and Intelligent Plans and Examinations (IPE), which was set up by a group of former planning inspectors, would also assist with any plan preparation at the councils, Planning understands. More.

A combined authority says it is keen to introduce a cap on the value of agricultural land developed for housing so that any subsequent uplift is used to help fund infrastructure projects. More.

A 450-home greenfield scheme has been approved in Sussex, after planners advised that the proposal was "critical" to the council's ability to provide a five-year housing land supply. More.

A 'culture change' in the planning system is needed in order to improve design standards and solve the housing crisis, a leading housebuilder has said. More.

Improving design quality is "at the heart and soul of the housing challenge" and will help drive up the supply of new homes, according to planning minister Dominic Raab. More.

A Kent council has published a series of options to help it meet a 2,000-home shortfall in its local development framework, the majority of which propose the deallocation of green belt land. More.

Leeds City Council has approved a 750-home mixed use plan, including a 40-storey tower, that it hopes will regenerate a 3.5 hectare patch of vacant land in the city centre. More.

The London Borough of Croydon's planning committee has unanimously approved revised plans to redevelop Premier League football club Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park stadium.More.

Planning applications from rural landowners face ‘significant delays, additional costs and unrealistic demands from local authorities’, a survey by a countryside business group claims. More.

Source: Planning Resource