<b><b>John Stewart urges the industry to act now on considering its response to the forthcoming planning Green Paper and looks at some positive economic trends for the market</b></b><br><b>The government's forthcoming Green Paper on reforming the planning system offers housebuilders their best chance for decades to influence the planning system for the better. But only if the industry comes up with workable and politically acceptable suggestions for reform.</b><br><b><b>A long time coming</b></b><br>The Green Paper will be the culmination of a long process of government education. <p></p><p>Back in 1998, when planning was still firmly within the DETR's remit and the Treasury concerned itself with grander issues, the McKinsey Global Institute published a report, Driving Productivity and Growth in the UK Economy, which concluded that, &amp;"the most pervasive explanation [for low productivity] lies in the effect of regulations governing product markets and land use on competitive behaviour, investment and pricing&amp;". </p><p>It recommended &amp;"comprehensive reform of product market and land use regulations. Piecemeal reform will prove inadequate.&amp;" </p><p>I am pleased to say I spotted the significance of this research and devoted my December 1998 HouseBuilder Viewpoint to its findings. I suggested the Treasury, or No.10 Downing Street, should issue a simple, two-sentence PPG: &amp;"Regional and …