<p><span>The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has launched an inquiry into the government’s plans to reform the English planning system.</span></p> <p><span>The Committee said its inquiry would consider how well the government’s proposed reforms - detailed in its planning white paper out for consultation – support its overall building strategy, including its aim to deliver 300,000 new homes a year. </span></p> <p><span>The inquiry will also examine how suitable the reforms are for ensuring high quality “fit for purpose” construction, how well they protect existing buildings or localities and allow for local engagement in the planning system.</span></p> <p><span>In its call for evidence, the Committee is inviting views on issues including the approach that should be used to determine housing need, how the planning system can ensure “adequate and reasonable protection” for areas and buildings of environmental, historical and architectural importance, and any changes needed to the green belt.</span></p> <p><i>Planning for the Future</i>, the government’s white paper, promises “the <span>most significant reforms to housing policy in decades”. These include the introduction of land categorisations, a new Infrastructure Levy and local community involvement from the start of the planning process.</span></p> <p><span>Clive Betts MP, said: “The government has set out its intention to implement …