In a bid to boost housebuilding strategically, developments located near well-connected railway stations will soon receive an automatic “yes”, in a move the government says is “ensuring more high-quality, affordable homes are built in and around our key towns and cities”.
The move looks to streamline the planning system for well-placed developments, reducing travel time for commuters and opening up opportunities for families across the UK. Councils will need to notify the government as to why they plan to reject developments over a certain size, with the final decision to go ahead with developments in these cases going to the Housing Secretary. These new rules are the latest endeavor from Labour to reach their target of 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament, a goal that to many seems fanciful after the progress made one year in.
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The Housing Secretary, Steve Reed 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.”
Reaction has been mixed, with some praising the governments commitment speeding up delivery, and making sure they can be beneficial in their placement. However, some voices believe there were more efficient methods to improve delivery, and ones that wouldn’t require a potential clash between central governments and local authorities.
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Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said:
“The Government’s continued focus on making the planning system more rules-based and targeting reforms that unlock the economic potential of Britain’s cities is very welcome.”
“This streamlined approach to developing new homes around well-connected transport stops is one of the best ways to align the planning system with economic growth.
“Prioritising more homes in and around big cities especially will connect more people to places with the highest number of jobs and opportunities.
“Centre for Cities estimates that up to 5 million homes could be built on these types of locations within a reasonable commute of the centres of Britain’s 15 largest cities.”
Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight at the NFB, said: “Building around transport, encouraging density, tackling planning politics, and supporting planners – many of us in the industry are left speechless at the ambition and conviction.
“This is a considerable opportunity to enable organic placemaking and stimulate housing supply, particularly in relation to density. We will be knocking on Mr Reed’s door waving our ‘Community Density’ report, which identifies how good design can make tall, dense buildings that are both acceptable to local people and seen as the default for great placemaking and more housing.”
Fergus Charlton, planning partner with national law firm Michelmores comments: “Expanding the Minister’s ability to call-in applications (in this case ‘minded to refuse’ applications for more than 150 units) is likely to undermine local democracy and decision making, and will not necessarily speed up the planning process when Ministerial delays will be a compounding factor in the applicant’s appeal strategy.
“Mr Reed’s aspiration of streamlining the planning process and cutting back delays would have been better served by placing the soon to emerge national development management policies on a statutory basis, giving them real effectiveness.”
