Announced in the Housing Green Paper, launched in July of this year, the government is offering the property sector one last opportunity to identify an alternative to the controversial PGS, originally proposed by Kate Barker in her 2004 review of housing supply, before pressing ahead with the Planning-gain Supplement Bill, which Gordon Brown has already indicated is provisional within the third session of the legislative programme.

Key stakeholders like Local Authorities are well placed to review these four new alternatives to determine if there is a more viable method for taxing planning gain than PGS, one which would allow a greater degree of local control, foster better links between LA’s and developers and deliver more benefit to local communities.  The four alternatives suggested in the consultation are:

• Option A - Light touch PGS with less scaling back of section 106 and a lower rate PGS
• Option B - Greenfield sites only PGS
• Option C - Charging mechanism with different rates for different types of development
• Option D - Average standard charge for developers based on the total cost of
  infrastructure needed in the area

PGS Forum Programme - click here

The Bruton Knowles discussion forums will be held at venues around the country offering Local Authorities the chance to learn more about each of these proposed options, contrasted to the current planning gain regime and the original PGS proposal, as well as discussing the issue of a Local Authority deficit if critical planning gain funding is jeopardised.  The following dates and venues have so far been confirmed:

• Monday 1st October 2007 – Cheltenham Chase Hotel, Cheltenham
• Tuesday 2nd October 2007 – St David’s Hotel & Spa, Cardiff
• Friday 5th October 2007 – Romanby Golf and Country Club, Northallerton
• Tuesday 9th October 2007 – The Holiday Inn, Guildford

The forums are offered free of charge, with refreshments and providing an open opportunity to pose questions about planning gain to the Bruton Knowles panel of experts.  If you would like to know more about the forums or to book a place please contact Janet Jewell on 01452 880040 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it