The government has announced a number of changes to planning rules with the aim of boosting housebuilding on brownfield sites.
The move will require local authorities to adopt a less restrictive approach to planning applications for brownfield sites while continuing to protect the green belt, with the government today publishing a consultation paper on the subject.
A spokesperson for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), said: “Every council in England will be told that they will need to prioritise brownfield developments and instructed to be less bureaucratic and more flexible in applying policies that halt housebuilding on brownfield land.”
Also as part of its long-term housing strategy, the government said that it will include “a presumption in favour of brownfield development” for the 20 largest cities and towns in England which do not have an acceptable level of housing delivery, classed as anything below 95% in the annual housing delivery test.
This ‘brownfield first’ approach was initially recommended in the government’s London Plan Review and is believed that it will deliver between 4,000 and 11,500 new homes each year in the capital. It is now being proposed for the 19 next most highly populated areas of the country.
In an article in The Times, Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, defended the move to only extend the plan to the largest cities and towns, saying: “There’s little point in trying to force large new estates on our countryside and green belt when that is where public resistance to development is strongest and where the GP surgeries, schools and roads don’t exist to support new communities.”
The government’s plans also included proposed changes to development rights that would make it easier for commercial buildings of any size to be converted into homes, which would pave the way for shops, offices and other commercial buildings to be speedily repurposed.
Reacting to the government’s announcement, Nick Sanderson, Audley Group CEO commented: “Removing blocks in the planning system is a step in the right direction. But brownfield sites are only one of the possible options to give UK families the homes they need. The focus shouldn’t simply be on building more homes. It’s about building the right types of homes.”
“The government must look at how the property market functions as a whole. Instead of continuing its blinkered focus on first-time buyers and young families, it has to look at increasing the supply of age-specific housing. This would encourage older homeowners to move out of large family homes, freeing up supply and creating movement up and down the ladder. The benefits of this are numerous.”
“Any new development, particularly city centre regeneration projects, should include provision for age-specific housing.”
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, commented: “We have long highlighted that the planning system is a brake on growth and housing delivery and we are pleased Michael Gove has responded to the call in our Manifesto to focus on the potential for urban brownfield sites to unlock millions of pounds of investment and deliver homes and jobs to support local prosperity. The Government must now ensure that local authorities are properly resourced to take advantage of these opportunities at pace.”
“The extension to PDR may help bring some vacant properties back into use but this is not a silver bullet for housing delivery. Only a small number of buildings are likely to be suitable for homes and it is paramount that there is effective ‘quality control’ in place to make sure that we do not end up with poor quality homes in our town centres.”
Mark Booth, co-founder of Hayfield, said: “If this is the government’s final shot at fixing our broken and sclerotic planning system then it’s failed to hit the target.”
“It is already far easier to develop on brownfield land than elsewhere and so while the measures are no doubt welcome to support more urban-based residential development, it doesn’t nothing to solve the majority of problems faced by housebuilders and homebuyers.”
“So far in this election campaign, only Labour has put forward plans and ambitions which are more clearly aligned to what the industry and the market really needs.”
Simon Vernon-Harcourt, design & planning director at City & Country, commented: “Encouraging brownfield development in urban areas is clearly a very good thing, as generally urban areas are better connected and therefore more sustainable places to live. However, there is not nearly enough brownfield land in the areas of the highest housing needs to meet the housing requirement, so it is only a small part of the solution and will not provide enough dwellings to relieve pressure on green belt land.”
“The UK Government needs to encourage development in sustainable locations, ones close to where jobs facilities and transport connections are, ones that will encourage and enhance sustainable communities. High-quality place making in sustainable locations should be the driver for where dwellings are built. Arbitrarily retaining areas designated as green belt in the 1950s will only push development further into the countryside into locations without facilities, transport connections and jobs. It is not just about low-energy homes, it needs to be about low-energy locations.”
