Housing by train stations to get automatic approval under government plans

News18.11.2510.45 AM by Ellie Brown

Housing developments around well-connected train and tram stations will get automatic approval as part of a series of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

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Steve Reed, the housing secretary, has announced more government planning reforms to speed up housebuilding (picture: Alamy)

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Housing developments around well-connected rail stations will get automatic approval as part of a series of changes to the National Planning Policy Framework #UKHousing

The new default “yes” will apply to schemes that meet minimum density standards and will include schemes on green belt land, the government confirmed yesterday. The automatic approval will apply across all local authorities equally.

Ministers will also be allowed to call in and decide on housing projects with more than 150 homes which councils are minded to refuse, especially where a planning committee is inclined to go against the advice of planning officers, under the new “pro-growth and rules-based” NPPF.

In a bid to speed up planning decisions, the government also plans to remove compulsory inquiries for schemes called in by ministers – allowing decisions to be made after written representations are considered instead – and to cut the number of applications required to be considered by some statutory consultees by up to 40%.

Sport England, the Gardens Trust and the Theatres Trust will be axed from the list of statutory consultees if the changes go ahead.

Steve Reed, the housing secretary, said: “I promised we’d get Britain building and that’s exactly what we are doing. But it has to be the right homes in the right places, and nearby transport links are a vital part of that.

“We’re making it easier to build well-connected and high-quality homes, using stronger powers to speed things up if councils drag their feet and proposing to streamline the consultation process to cut back delays.

“This is about action: spades in the ground, breathing new life into communities, and families finally getting the homes they need.”

Chancellor Rachel Reeves added: “We’re ending years of dither and delay by green-lighting affordable new homes for working people.

“This is another demonstration of our Plan for Change getting spades in the ground faster, connecting people with jobs and opportunities closer to where they live and boosting towns and cities across the country.”

The move to tilt planning rules in favour of housing near commuter transport hubs was first trailed by Ms Reeves, in a speech in January. In March, Network Rail set up its own property company in a bid to deliver 40,000 homes across its estate.

The latest changes come as the government seeks to achieve its target of building 1.5 million homes by the end of the current parliament, which one study estimates would deliver £103bn in social impact if achieved.

Last month, the government lodged a raft of amendments to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill billed as a “pro-growth package”, which aims to speed up planning decisions and is now in its final stage before receiving royal assent.

Mr Reed, who took over as housing secretary in September, also announced cuts to affordable housing targets in London which apply to fast-track developments, as well as handing new powers to Sadiq Khan, the city’s mayor.

Labour has already amended the NPPF once since being elected last year, with changes in December including a new definition of ‘grey belt’ land and the return of mandatory housing targets.