<p>The industry has largely welcomed the government’s confirmed planning reforms as part of the Queen’s Speech.</p> <p>Dave Sheridan, executive chairman of Yorkshire-based modular housebuilder ilke Homes, said the prime minister’s support of “the biggest shake up to the planning system in 70 years” was “fantastic news”. At the same time, “policymakers must ensure that homes being delivered today are suitable for tomorrow”.</p> <p>As part of the reforms, Sheridan recommended that public land be reserved for factory-built homes which, he said, were precision engineered, using low carbon technologies. This would ensure the government’s housing policies aligned “with its climate ones” as well as aid the government’s “levelling-up” agenda, enabling jobs and investment in technology to be created in Northern England.</p> <p>Santhosh Gowda, chairman of Strawberry Star, said the prospect of <i>“</i>a dynamic, flexible, digitalised system is an exciting prospect for all”. But he noted that it would be a balancing act for the government to boost housing supply “without compromising on design, community, and ecology, whilst also ensuring it fits with the government’s ‘Building Better Building Beautiful’ ethos too.” <i></i></p> <p>A new zonal system under the Planning Bill was a “welcome move,” said Dean Clifford, co-founder of Great Marlborough Estates. He …