Member

There will need to be, consequent to this amendment, education in this regard, and this is something that we can consider further in negotiations with the Front Bench. However, it is abundantly clear that where formal mediation has been deployed in planning scenarios, it has often been successful. Even where its techniques have been deployed informally, through the presence of a neutral facilitator or chair, negotiations have been accelerated and produced better outcomes. Consequently, both public and private public and private resources have been saved and stakeholder relations have been improved. Crucially, earlier delivery of new developments in houses and infrastructure has resulted. Accordingly, the capabilities of mediation in planning are, I think, now well established and align clearly with the Government’s objectives and those of the Bill.