Red tape rip-up to build more homes
PLANNING rules are being relaxed to encourage the construction of up to 300,000 more homes a year and revitalise town centres.
Laws laid in Parliament today will allow builders and contractors to tear down derelict buildings and replace them with housing – without full planning applications.
Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said that sweeping away the red tape will help to revive beleaguered high streets and town centres and increase the amount of residential properties.
The rules, which will come into force by September, will allow more space for businesses and help them to adapt quickly to what consumers and businesses need, he said.
Homeowners will also be able to build extensions and up to two additional storeys to their home through a fasttrack approval process. There will be a requirement to carefully consider the impact on neighbours.
Mr Jenrick said this will reduce pressure to build on greenfield sites and deliver more homes that fit the character of their local area. Later this month the Government will set out plans to reform England’s 70-year-old planning system. Mr Jenrick said: “We are reforming the planning system and cutting out unnecessary bureaucracy to give small business owners the freedom they need to adapt and evolve, and to renew our town centres with new enterprises and more housing. “These changes will help transform boarded-up, unused buildings into high quality homes at the heart of their communities. It will mean that families can add up to two storeys to their home, providing much needed additional space for children or elderly relatives as their household grows.”
Pubs, libraries, village shops and other buildings essential to communities will not be covered by the changes.
Ministers have allocated funds from the £400million Brownfield Land Fund to the West Midlands, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Liverpool City Region, Sheffield City Region, and North of Tyne and Tees Valley to support around 24,000 homes.
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They have put a further £450million into the Home Building Fund, helping smaller developers access finance for new developments. This is expected to support delivery of 7,200 new homes.
The announcement follows recent measures to support home building, including the £12billion affordable homes project which starts next year.
Last week the Government told of changes to ensure theatres, concert halls and live music venues are saved for future generations.