<p></p><p></p><p>The prime minister wants to accelerate the planning system but her political standing will make this a challenge, according to the Rt Hon Gavin Barwell. </p><p><span>Speaking at </span><i>Housebuilder’s</i><span> Housing Market Intelligence Conference held yesterday (October 6) in London, Barwell stated that the supply side of the new government’s controversial Growth Plan was “good news”. He said the new PM Liz Truss and chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng wanted to “take on the nimbys”. </span></p><p>But, noting that Truss’ power over her party was already “diminished” and taking in Kwarteng’s recent performance, Barwell expressed doubt over whether they had “the political authority to deliver those [planning] reforms, given what they’ve been through over the past two weeks”. </p><p>In attempting to “crack the planning nut”, local authorities had to be incentivised to “do the right thing,” Barwell said. Voters had three arguments against housing, he claimed: the design issue, affordability and thoughts of “I see the need for new homes but I’ll have to wait longer to see my GP”. At the same time, he said that public opinion had shifted towards housebuilding. “People will see that their grandchildren might not have the same opportunities as them”. </p><p>Former housing minister Barwell spoke about the wider …