Bringing Back
A revision of the planning system was announced at the end of July, as the government sets out decisions necessary to improve the foundations and boost the economy. As part of the plan, the government will update the National Planning Policy Framework to reintroduce mandatory targets and raise the expectation for how many houses have to be built.
The new rules introduced will reverse the decision made last year to make the targets advisory at a time when planning permissions were at a record low, leading to a drastic decrease in the number of houses being built. The new targets reflect the level of ambition involved to get the housing crisis back under control.
Local Authorities Hold the
As part of this approach, they will also be making it clear that the expectation is that all local councils have up-to-date plans. This means they will be required to plan for the number of homes their communities need, so local people can now only contribute to how, not if, houses are built.
The new targets will mean councils have to provide houses in areas most in need. This strategy will begin the journey to reach the target of building 1.5 million new homes. By helping more people buy their own homes, removing the largest barriers to economic growth, and getting house supply back on track, there is likely to be a rise in demand and a boost in the local economy.
Introducing
In previous years, house building has been restricted by the “green belt”. This is land that limits the expansion of regions, which was around 13% of the overall land available in England in March 2023.
Recent surveys show that residents disagree with building across “green belt” land. Therefore, Labour has introduced the idea of creating a new category of “grey belt”. This would include lower quality parts of the green belt land, near existing developments or roads, as well as derelict spaces from old petrol stations and car parks.
If local authorities can’t meet their housing targets, they will need to look to brownfield land in the green and grey belts, focusing on land close to stations and existing settlements. Brownfield refers to land that was previously developed upon or land which is or was occupied by a permanent structure.
Green belt developments will be held to higher standards with newly introduced “golden rules”, including that 50% or more of the homes being built must be affordable.
What are the Golden Rules?
Construction on grey belt sites will only be approved if they meet the government’s ‘golden rules’. These rules state that half of the homes must be affordable or the plans must enhance the local environment and the necessary amenities are already in place in the area, such as schools, doctors, and shops.
Speeding up the
Construction workers, infrastructure groups and investors have made complaints that planning laws have previously prevented them from house building. This is because communities are often able to hold projects up in reviews and legal challenges.
Currently, only a third of councils have a construction plan that is under five years old. This is why the government decided they would now step in where necessary to help the construction progress. They will ensure local communities get a say on how, but no longer if, homes are constructed.
Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has told every council Leader and Chief Executive in England that there is “not just a professional responsibility but a moral obligation to see more homes built”. She also made it clear that she will not hesitate to intervene where it is necessary.
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