The aim is to provide a more comprehensive approach for planners, developers and councils to build more homes more quickly in the places people want to live.

Councils and developers will now be required to work with community groups to ensure those affected by new developments will have a say on how they look and feel. It will focus on the following areas:

 

Greater responsibility

 

Local authorities will have a new housing delivery test focused on driving up the numbers of homes actually delivered in their area, rather than numbers planned for. Developers will also be held to account for delivering the commitments, including affordable housing and the infrastructure needed to support communities.

 

Maximising the use of land

 

More freedom will be given to local authorities to make the most of existing brownfield land to build homes that maximise density. Redundant land will be encouraged such as underutilised retail or industrial space for homes, with more flexibilities given to extend upwards on existing blocks of flats and houses as well as shops and offices. This will mean we can build the homes the country needs while maintaining strong protection for the Green Belt.

 

Maintaining strong protections for the environment

 

Ensuring developments result in a net gain to the environment where possible and increases the protection given to ancient woodland so they are not lost for future generations.

 

Ensuring the right homes are built

 

Delivering more affordable homes that meet the housing needs of everyone wherever they are in their life, including sites dedicated for first time buyers, build to rent homes with family friendly tenancies, guaranteed affordable homes for key workers and adapted homes for older people.

 

Higher quality and design

 

Introducing new quality standards so well designed new homes are built in places people are proud to live in and live next door to.

 

More transparent planning process

 

Local authorities will be encouraged to work together and continue to close the gap between planning permissions granted and homes built. A new standardised approach to assessing housing need will be introduced with new measures to make the system of developer contributions clearer, simpler and more robust, so developers understand what’s expected of them and will be in no doubt that councils will hold them to their commitments.

 

The consultation (https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/draft-revised-national-planning-policy-framework) has launched today to give everyone the opportunity to feed in views on proposals for the future of planning and will run until Thursday 10 May.

 

CIHT will be responding to this important consultation, if you would like to register an interest, please contact e: technical@ciht.org.uk