RTPI urges government to deliver Housing White Paper quickly

June 28, 2017 / Isla MacFarlane
RTPI urges government to deliver Housing White Paper quickly

The RTPI has urged the UK Government to deliver the Housing White Paper without delay by setting a clear target of a million new homes and by focussing on the practical measures that can be actioned upon relatively quickly.

Stephen Wilkinson, RTPI President said, “Solving the housing crisis can no longer wait. Action has to be taken now. While we are heartened by the government’s commitment to implement the proposals in the Housing White Paper, we are disappointed that details and targets are lacking.

“The Conservative Manifesto stated a target to build new homes and the intention to reform Compulsory Purchase Orders to help local authorities purchase sites at closer to existing market value. Both are not mentioned in the Queen’s Speech.”

The RTPI has published a detailed document outlining the key relevant points in the Queen’s Speech and what the Institute regards as gaps and priorities for the Government in the areas of Planning, Housing, Industrial Strategy, Infrastructure, Devolution, Climate Change and Mental Health.

“Letters to Ministers will be sent highlighting our wish to see these relatively quick and straightforward solutions actioned, especially those measures that would boost local authorities’ capacity to deliver and cooperate with each other, ” the RTPI said in a statement.

The document also highlights a concern for the future of post-Brexit legislation regarding planning and the planning profession. The Institute will be monitoring the development of the Great Repeal Bill very closely to see if this Bill will provide Ministers with secondary legislation powers to alter all legislation currently coming from the UK and Parliament which the Government proposes to save immediately after exiting the EU.

Did you like this? Share it: