Changes to Section 106 agreements have been proposed by housing minister, Brandon Lewis, following concerns late negotiations are delaying the planning process.

Section 106 agreements allow councils to attach conditions to granting planning permission such as requiring the developers to provide infrastructure and community facilities.

The proposals include ensuring negotiations start at the beginning of the planning application process rather than towards the end, and a new dispute resolution system to stop developments from stalling. Lewis also wants planning applications to be processed within 13 weeks.

Mr Lewis said: ‘Section 106 planning agreements can bring great benefits to local communities but too often they drag out planning applications for months.

‘That’s why today I’m proposing measures that will speed up the process, get planning permissions granted quicker and workers on site earlier, all the while keeping the community benefits that these agreements can bring.’