You are viewing 1 of your 1 free articles
Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has set out proposed changes to the planning system, including making it easier for developers to demolish vacant properties and build homes above existing buildings, while looking to further incentivise council planning departments to support the development of more homes.
Speaking in the House of Commons today, Mr Jenrick said the government is consulting on plans to allow developers to demolish vacant commercial, industrial and residential buildings and replace them with well-designed homes without being delayed during the planning process.
Meanwhile, councils will be encouraged to ensure that the redevelopment of high streets is housing led by building upwards and above and around stations.
Mr Jenrick said the government will also review the formula for calculating local housing need in order to encourage more building in urban areas.
Alongside the speech, the government released a document titled ’Planning for the Future’ which set out the government’s other proposals for planning reform. Within this, the government has now set a deadline of December 2023 for all councils to have up-to-date local plans, warning that the government would intervene if this deadline is not met.
In November the government is also set to increase the housing delivery threshold for councils from 45% to 75% of the target number of homes the government deems need to be delivered in the local authority’s localities.
If a council falls short of the target percentage, the planning policy for that area will be “presumption in favour of development” with less control over decisions for the local authority.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will also review the New Homes Bonus for councils which looks to reward those councils that build more homes through providing extra funding. The spring review will look to further incentivise local authorities to build.
A greater focus will be placed on building on brownfield sites, and next month the government will launch a register of brownfield sites to encourage councils to make the most of this land first.
This will be backed by the £400m Brownfield Housing Fund, announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak in yesterday’s Budget.
The announcements come ahead of the upcoming Planning White Paper, which Mr Jenrick advised would be released in the spring.
During his speech Mr Jenrick also confirmed the government’s commitment to bringing forward a Renters Reform Bill, which will abolish so-called ‘no fault’ evictions, and the Social Housing White Paper.
The long-awaited Social Housing White Paper is expected later this year, with the Conservative manifesto promising it will “empower tenants and support the continued supply of social homes”.
The housing secretary said: “I want everyone, no matter where they live, to have access to affordable, safe, quality housing and live in communities with a real sense of place – as part of our mission to level-up, unite and unleash the potential of this country.
“We must think boldly and creatively about the planning system to make it fit for the future, and this is just the first step, so we can deliver the homes communities need and help more young people onto the ladder.”
Planning reforms
Housing Delivery Test
Planning departments
Homeownership
Design
Climate and sustainability