On the 12th of March 2020, Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick MP outlines proposals which aim to bring the planning system up to date. More power and responsibility will be handed to councils, allowing them to take greater control of local communities.
While housing has moved to the backburner due to the Coronavirus crisis, there will be further plans relating to brownfield sites. This land is scheduled to be the area where most of the development work will take place. A sum of around £400m is tipped to be made available to turn brownfield sites into new property.
There is a need to speed up the development process
Developers will be allowed to demolish any vacant residential, industrial and commercial premises, which can be replaced with newly designed and built properties. Under the new plans, the planning process should run a lot more smoothly, and hopefully, be created in a shorter time-frame.
Local authorities are required to finalise their Local Plans by December 2023. Failure to do so may result in Government intervention. The key outcome is for enough homes to be developed in communities, and if local authorities cannot achieve this, they will be supported in this aim.
Housing Secretary Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP said ; “I want everyone, no matter where they live, to have access to affordable, safe, quality housing and live in communities with a real sense of place – as part of our mission to level up, unite and unleash the potential of this country.”
Jenrick continued by saying; “We must think boldly and creatively about the planning system to make it fit for the future, and this is just the first step, so we can deliver the homes communities need and help more young people onto the ladder.”
Cllr Philip Atkins, housing and planning spokesperson for the County Councils Network, also spoke about the matter, saying; “The housing secretary’s ambition to move to an ‘infrastructure first approach’ to planning chimes with what many communities in county areas would like to see. More homes are being built – but we need to move away from simply planning by numbers to instead making sure that new developments do have access to the right amenities – both for existing and new residents.”
There is a lot of pressure on the Government to deliver in various ways
With so many external factors taking precedence in the economy, it will be interesting to see if support remains in place for this scheme. There is no denying there is a need for additional support and funding in the housing market. You can rely on us to keep you fully informed about property developments.
As local property market specialists, we take great interest in anything which helps development and growth in the community. No matter what property move you wish to make, or whether you need guidance, we are on hand to assist you. Whatever property matter is on your mind, contact Hunters Bridgend today, and we will be more than happy to help.
