Government seeking dramatic reforms to planning policy

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced radical reforms to the planning system in a bid to get more projects completed. The new regulations will allow more freedom to change an existing use to residential without planning permission, and homeowners will be able to extend their properties more easily through a fast track approval system. These changes should come into effect by September 2020 through adjustments to the law.

The proposed reforms come alongside a package of spending measures, including funding for affordable homes programmes. Build It hopes that the government will continue to show support for self build by allocating some of the £900m earmarked for shovel-ready sites to enable custom home developments.