<b><b></b></b><p></p><p><b><b>Married to regeneration</b><br></b>And so it starts. Stephen Byers has launched the consultation process for the Modernising Planning Green Paper, and this time we need to get it right. Byers was pushing the right buttons with his speech, highlighting the excessive complexities of the plan-led system and questioning whether it needs to be so difficult. </p><p>Early reports from housebuilders who have seen Lord Falconer speak are also encouraging, expressing some surprise at his early grasp of the important issues. </p><p>And now the CBI has joined the fray, calling for the introduction of shorter and more flexible plans. </p><p>Everything is falling into place for a good crack at improving the process, and the reward for the government will surely be the advancement of its urban regeneration plans and brownfield development agenda. </p><p>The figure for brownfield housebuilding is stuck on 57% and has been since 1995, still short of the 60% target. But housebuilders are now married to the idea of regenerative schemes (see pages 24-27), so much so that an easing of the planning backlog will soon see that target reached. </p><p><b>Ben Roskrow</b> - <i>Editor</i></p><p></p>