Councils will be told they must play their part to meet housing need by reaching a new ambitious combined target of 370,000 homes a year.
The Goveenment has set out its planning overhaul measures to reach its target of building 1.5 million homes before the next election
The reforms will see lower quality ‘grey belt’ land defined in national planning policy for the first time, with tough new ‘golden rules’ on development to guarantee affordable housing, local services and green spaces
There will be £100m additional cash for councils’ planning officers, along with 300 additional planning officers, will see faster decision making to turbocharge growth and get families onto the property
Areas with the highest unaffordability for housing and greatest potential for growth will see housebuilding targets increase, while stronger action will ensure councils adopt up-to-date local plans or develop new plans that work for their communities.
A new common-sense approach will be introduced to the greenbelt. While remaining committed to a brownfield first approach, the updated NPPF will require councils to review their greenbelt boundaries to meet targets, identifying and prioritising lower quality ‘grey belt’ land.
Any development on greenbelt must meet strict requirements, via the new ‘golden rules’, which require developers to provide the necessary infrastructure for local communities, such as nurseries, GP surgeries and transport, as well as a premium level of social and affordable housing.
To further tackle the housing crisis, councils and developers will also need to give greater consideration to social rent when building new homes and local leaders have greater powers to build genuinely affordable homes for those who need them most.
Deputy Labour leader and Greater Manchester MP Angela Rayner said
“From day one I have been open and honest about the scale of the housing crisis we have inherited.
I will not hesitate to do what it takes to build 1.5 million new homes and deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.”
