Planning reforms are key to fixing the housing crisis, but more attention is needed on supporting local authorities to improve their ability to respond to planning demands, according to the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) in response to the ‘Planning for the Future’ announcement made recently.
Brian Berry, Chief Executive of the FMB, said: “The current planning system is a major barrier for small house builders, so today’s announcement that it will be brought into the 21st century through digitisation and simplification is a victory for common sense. I’m pleased to learn that the Secretary of State will engage particularly with small to medium-sized (SME) house builders to ensure the new system works for them. Key to increasing the volume and quality of new homes coming through is reversing the decline in small house builders.
“That the Government has also made the decision to intervene in local authorities’ plan-making processes by setting a 2023 deadline to update their local plans is helpful. A recent Public Accounts Committee report found that fewer than half of local authorities had an up-to-date local plan, which goes to show that inaction is hampering housing numbers.
“More detail is needed in terms of how local authorities plan to provide a good quality service to SMEs. While linking fees to performance and offering rebates to developers is a step in the right direction, local authorities need support to get the basics right. That means a dedicated phone number where house builders can get through to someone, the ability to arrange meetings that don’t cost an arm and a leg, and regular, good-quality communication. The FMB stands ready to support this review and reform process.”
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) has the following response to the Housing Secretary’s oral statement about planning reforms which he made to the House of Commons earlier today.
Hew Edgar, Head of RICS UK Government Relations & City Strategy, said: “It seems planning rules change nearly as often as Housing Ministers but RICS is grateful the Government have listened to us on reforming the Green Belt to allow previously developed land near transport hubs to be used to build new homes as well as including RICS’ long called for ask for the requirement of placemaking in the National Planning Policy Framework.
“But it’s bizarre, given their net-zero commitment, that the Government is proposing to make it easier to demolish existing buildings – rather than retrofitting them with the latest technology – it isn’t green or sustainable for our planet and something Ministers have been repeatedly told.
“The property sector awaits the long promised Planning White Paper, as the devil will be in its detail, but firms do need long-term certainty to get shovels in the ground but moving the goalposts so often is inhibiting delivery.”
