Rayner unveils housing reform plan to get Britain building

Aaron Morby 9 months ago
Share

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has announced a set of radical reforms to overhaul the planning system and set new, mandatory housing targets to pave the way to deliver 1.5m more homes.

Rayner: "Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past'
Rayner: "Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past'

The government shake-up of planning rules could see councils in England forced to build on low-quality green belt sites to meet mandatory house building targets.

Also the government said it was also committed to making it easier to build key infrastructure such as laboratories, gigafactories and data centres, as well as making changes to deliver more large onshore wind projects and solar development across the country.

The new rules set out today will reverse the decision last year to water down housing targets at a time when planning permissions were at a record low.

In addition to restoring mandatory housing targets, the method used to calculate them, which relied on decade-old data, will be updated.

This new method for calculating housing need will set a national building target of 370,000 new homes per year.

The first port of call for development will be brownfield land. Reforms announced today will make explicit that the default answer to brownfield development should be “yes” and promote homebuilding at greater densities in urban centres, like towns and cities.

Rayner said councils have been told to review their green belt land if needed to meet their own target, identifying and prioritising ‘grey belt’ land, which the government has today set out a definition for.

This includes land on the edge of existing settlements or roads, as well as old petrol stations and car parks.

The Deputy Prime Minister has written to every council leader and chief executive in England to make clear that there is “not just a professional responsibility but a moral obligation to see more homes built”.

She also warns that she will not hesitate to use her powers of intervention should it be necessary – including taking over an authority’s plan making directly.

Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to the government’s ‘golden rules’, which make clear that development should deliver 50% affordable homes, increase access to green spaces and put the necessary infrastructure is in place, such as schools and GP surgeries.

Rayner also confirmed that details of future government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forward at the next spending review, so social housing providers can plan for the future and help deliver the biggest increase in affordable housebuilding in a generation.

Neil Jefferson , CEO, Home Builders Federation, said: “Today represents the first and most important step ministers have taken in addressing the barriers to delivering new homes.

“The scale of the government’s housing ambition has given hope to the house building industry that stands ready to increase supply and tackle the country’s housing shortage.

“A reformed, more progressive planning system that requires local authorities to meet their communities’ housing needs is a major step forward to address the barriers to delivery.”

 

Latest news

Sir Robert McAlpine claws way back into profit

Firm says return to profit and strong cash balance validates new strategy
20 hours ago

Aston Villa to revamp North Stand

Club to reuse existing structure rather than complete rebuild
16 hours ago

Final phase of £1.5bn Elephant and Castle revamp hits planning

Get Living submits revised plan for 500 homes and 450-bed student block
17 hours ago

Severfield to cut staff by 6% amid pricing pressure

Steelwork contractor warns of extended tighter pricing due to project delays
20 hours ago

JRL completes sale of 50% stake to Malaysian giant IJM

Deal boosts balance sheet and kicks starts growth plan
21 hours ago

Green light for £100m Liverpool Baltic station build

Enabling highway works to start in the autumn
2 days ago

First live tests for flying construction robots

Drones can lay construction materials at height on site
20 hours ago

Three firms land £170m Gentoo Sunderland housing deal

PHS Solutions, Esh and RE:GEN to deliver 10-year home upgrade plan
2 days ago

Gateway gridlock hits build-to-rent delivery as starts nosedive

Build to rent starts plunge 18% in the capital
2 days ago

Call to shift Gateway 2 checks to end building bottleneck

"The current system isn't working but we all want to see safe buildings"
2 days ago

GBN launches £600m bid race for SMR engineer roles

Owner engineers to provide technical and assurance services
2 days ago

Wates hires ex-Homes England chief to head public sector push

Robert Stone to spearhead its public sector and national frameworks strategy
2 days ago

Acheson Construction collapse costs suppliers £8.5m

One frustrated creditor seized a telehandler after contractor went into administration
3 days ago

Dominus wins go-ahead for 173-bed Glasgow scheme

Old Wynd Street job expected to cost around £25m to build
3 days ago

Safety Regulator misses deadline to clear Gateway 2 backlog

Investors pulling out of funding high rise buildings
3 days ago

CITB still sitting on £95m cash pile

Staff numbers jump from 666 to 763 as training body wage bill soars
3 days ago

£500m road surfacing framework market call

NEPO goes out to consultation on north east regional highways deal
3 days ago

Two share £220m Scottish rail repairs and minor works deal

AmcoGiffen and CPMS win civils and building repair deals
3 days ago

Builder wanted for £60m London leisure and flats job

Tower Hamlets aims to replace St George’s Leisure Centre in Shadwell
3 days ago

Contractor confirmed for business park expansion

Roe Developments to start on next phase of Castle Donington scheme
3 days ago

Driver escapes injury as scaffold collapses onto van

Major three-lift scaffold fall blocks north London high street
1 week ago

Gilbert Ash to be sold to staff

£267m turnover contractor to transition to an Employee Ownership Trust
1 week ago

M Group seals biggest-ever deal with Telent takeover

Digital infrastructure specialist deal lifts turnover to £3bn
1 week ago

Aggregates firm Ashville went down owing more than £3m

Debts revealed in Companies House update
1 week ago

Cardo saves 100 jobs at Breyer roofing arm

Private equity-backed Welsh maintenance group continues to expand
1 week ago

Excavator knocked off lorry going under bridge

Traffic Commissioner inquiry after accident in south London
1 week ago

Czech energy tycoon buys UK’s biggest rebar supplier

Spanish offload Celsa UK operation to be rebranded 7 Steel UK
1 week ago

Caddick Construction targets £400m turnover

Regional shake-up pays off at contracting arm
1 week ago

Redrow chief steps down after Barratt merger

Matthew Pratt leaving after 22 years
1 week ago

United Living names new property services senior team

New CEO and COO appointed to lead growth in housing upkeep and retrofit
1 week ago

Contractor services