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UK: The government has announced that housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default “yes” in future if they meet certain rules.
Housebuilders will be encouraged to build more homes near these transport links, and councils in England will also now be required to tell the government when they intend to reject new housing developments over a certain size, with the Housing Secretary able to have the final say on whether they should go ahead.
Planning reforms to give greater certainty and strength for development around well-connected rail stations, including trains and trams, will be proposed through a new National Planning Policy Framework, which will be consulted on later this year.
These changes will be introduced alongside proposals to streamline the statutory consultee process, intended to save developers time and money.
It also builds on work already underway following the launch of Platform4, a new property company set to unlock 40,000 homes on brownfield land near railway stations, with four sites already earmarked, including Newcastle Forth Goods Yard and Manchester Mayfield.
Housing secretary Steve Reed said: “I promised we’d get Britain building and that’s exactly what we are doing. But it has to be the right homes in the right places and nearby transport links are a vital part of that. We’re making it easier to build well-connected and high-quality homes, using stronger powers to speed things up if councils drag their feet, and proposing to streamline the consultation process to cut back delays. This is about action: spades in the ground, breathing new life into communities, and families finally getting the homes they need.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves added: “We’re ending years of dither and delay by green lighting affordable new homes for working people. This is another demonstration that our Plan for Change is getting spades in the ground faster, connecting people with jobs and opportunities closer to where they live, and boosting towns and cities across the country.”
The rules around train stations will extend to land within the Green Belt. The default “yes” will also apply equally across all local authorities. The proposals will also include minimum housing density standards for these sites, expected to be exceeded in many cases.
Measures will also require councils to inform government when they’re inclined to block applications of 150 homes or more so ministers can decide whether to step in and make the decision instead. Particular attention will be paid to those applications where a planning committee intends to refuse it contrary to the advice of planning officers.
Applications called in by ministers will also be sped up through the removal of the mandatory requirement for inquiries, with the option to consider matters through written representations before reaching a decision where appropriate.
The Housing Secretary is expected to make further announcements to speed up housebuilding across the country before the end of the year.
Housebuilder:
• The government has announced that housebuilding near well-connected train stations will receive a default “yes” in future if they meet certain rules
• Planning reforms to give greater certainty and strength for development around well-connected rail stations, including trains and trams, will be proposed through a new National Planning Policy Framework, which will be consulted on later this year
• These changes will be introduced alongside proposals to streamline the statutory consultee process, intended to save developers time and money
