The leading trade body for the property industry has hailed the Government for taking the bold step of introducing deadlines for the creation of Local Plans for all local authorities across the UK.
The British Property Federation (BPF) has welcomed measures that will be part of the Housing and Planning Bill that mean that government will intervene if local authorities do not have Local Plans in place by 2017, which it deems imperative for growth.
The organisation welcomed further measures that will be outlined in the Bill, including an extension of the office to residential permitted development right and automatic permission in principle on brownfield sites.
It has warned that Government must not be too focused on owner occupation however, and that it must encourage development of other tenures if it is to deliver new homes at scale. It has also outlined how new housing schemes must be accompanied by commercial development, such as shops and leisure facilities, to ensure that they are places where people really want to live.
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, commented: "The housing challenge facing the UK is acute, and Government is being fairly punchy in the reforms it wants to make to the planning system to deliver new homes. The fact that it is prepared to take on the responsibility of Local Plans is particularly welcome as these are crucial to creating sustainable development in local communities.
"There are two things that Government must not forget in its headlong pursuit of creating new homes, however. One is that homes for owner occupation are not the only option. The build to rent sector has the potential to deliver a huge number of additional homes and to drive up standards in the rental sector, and must not be disregarded in favour of homes for sale - there is room for both.
"The other is that thriving communities need a mx of amenities to be a success. In order to create places where people want to live, there need to be places for people, to work, shop, and enjoy themselves, and planning policy must reflect that accordingly."
If councils fail to produce and bring into force an up to date Local Plan for new homes by 2017, Government will work with local people to ensure one is drawn up. Ministers will shortly be bringing forward further details of how best to intervene when councils have failed to get started on their plans.
"This is a potentially game-changing announcement, and one we whole-heartedly support, since Local Plans are fundamental to growth," she added. "Local Plans provide certainty, which is Holy Grail for investors, and by ensuring that all local authorities have them in place will undoubtedly have a positive effect on investment.
"It is absolutely critical that hand in hand with this requirement comes a clear change in approach to local plans to make them slimmer, more targeted and more effective. This is particularly important now, given how many local authorities are under enormous pressure financially and strapped for time and resources.
"We look forward to the Local Plan Expert Group’s work in this area."
A new legal duty will be placed on councils to guarantee the delivery of Starter Homes on all reasonably sized new development sites, and to promote the scheme to first time buyers in their area. Local authorities will be able to bid for a share of a £10 million Starter Homes fund - part of a £36million package to accelerate the delivery of starter homes - by helping councils prepare brownfield sites that would otherwise not be built for starter homes.
Other proposals include:
- Automatic planning permission in principle on brownfield sites – to build as many homes as possible while protecting the green belt
- Planning reforms to support small builders – placing a new duty on councils to help allocate land to people who want to build their own home
- Selling off high value vacant assets – which will be reinvested in building new affordable homes.
