🗺 What are we trying to do?

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We want the UK to introduce formal licensing for developers — with clear standards of conduct — and to criminalise serious forms of planning abuse, such as deception during consultation, land banking to manipulate housing targets, or coordinated lobbying to undermine policy.

🎯 What will this achieve?

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• Stops dishonest or exploitative actors from operating unchecked in the planning system
• Creates real consequences for abuse — including financial penalties and prosecution
• Builds public trust and levels the playing field for ethical developers

🏩 NATIONAL LEVEL – What should our MP do?

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✅ 1. Propose a Developer Licensing & Misconduct Bill

Push for legislation that would:

• Require developers and major land promoters to be licensed by a national body
• Set standards for transparency, consultation, and delivery track record
• Create criminal penalties for deliberate deception, coordinated planning manipulation, or abuse of local process

✅ 2. Request a ministerial response on misconduct

Ask DLUHC to:

• Investigate current loopholes allowing repeat planning abuse
• Commit to publishing guidance and legal options for reform

✅ 3. Call for a select committee inquiry

Encourage scrutiny of cases where planning decisions were:

• Secured through misinformation
• Repeatedly manipulated by known actors
• Associated with ghost consultations or tampering with evidence

🏡 LOCAL LEVEL (EHDC) – What can be done right now?

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✅ 1. Create a local developer conduct register

Keep records of developer behaviour during and after planning:

• Missed delivery timelines
• Misleading consultation materials
• Pattern of speculative applications not followed by delivery

✅ 2. Prioritise planning applications based on conduct history

• Reward reliable developers in site selection, delivery phasing, or conditions enforcement
• Flag repeated abusers in reports

✅ 3. Support community evidence gathering

Work with residents and parish councils to:

• Document misleading leaflets, false engagement claims, or delay tactics
• Submit this to EHDC and include it in planning decisions

🤝 What should our MP do locally?

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• Publicly support a zero-tolerance stance on planning fraud and abuse
• Encourage EHDC to trial a local licensing or vetting scheme
• Share local cases of abuse in Parliament to demand reform