George Osborne unveils new planning reforms

The government’s plans were revealed during the unveiling of a new productivity plan on 10th July 2015. The announcement couldn’t have come at a better time as the ONS revealed on the same day that the number of new homes being built had dropped dramatically in May.

So what’s changed?

• Planning permission for new homes on brownfield land will be granted automatically.
• Local authorities will have to finalise their local plans by a new deadline, with government intervention where the process is stalled.
• The government is bringing forward proposals for stronger, fairer compulsory purchase powers.
• Devolution of major new planning powers to London and Greater Manchester. In London for example, homeowners won’t have to seek planning permission for extensions up to the height of an adjoining building, provided their neighbours don’t object.
• The government also reiterated its promise to deliver 200,000 starter homes for first time buyers.

What does this mean for housebuilding?

Reforming the planning system is another step in the right direction when it comes to meeting housebuilding targets. The proposals could significantly speed up the process of getting planning permission, which will help us to deliver high quality new homes even faster. By making it quicker and easier to redevelop brownfield land, we can create exciting new residential areas within our towns and cities.

And what does this mean for you?

These changes will help us to meet the strong demand for new homes. By getting planning permission agreed on sites in advance, we can bring homes to the market more quickly. The reforms are a great step in the right direction, but their implementation will be key to their success. For example, the government needs to ensure that local authorities have the resources and staff available to deal with planning applications quickly.

Read more of his thoughts at Building Construction Design.