The HBA welcomes the Housing and Planning Bill
The Government introduced the Housing and Planning Bill on the floor of the House of Commons on 13 October 2015.The government introduced the Housing and Planning Bill on the floor of the House of Commons on 13 October 2015.
Although the detailed provisions set out in the Housing and Planning Bill will take some time to understand for developers and local authorities alike, the House Builders Association (HBA) is encouraged to see the government trying to tackle rising prices with capped value starter homes. Devolved powers will certainly help communities increase their local housing supply. The HBA hopes that this decade may witness an improved focus on small sites, infill, and organic community development.
Rico Wojtulewicz, policy advisor for the HBA, commented: “It is positive to see another form of organic development placed so highly in the bill. Self-build and custom housebuilding have been so far undervalued resources in tackling the housing shortage, and will help neighbourhoods to better address their local needs.
“SME house builders are integral to the success of self-build and the HBA expects that their local expertise will be appropriately utilised.”
The HBA also praises other positive elements in the bill such as: more simplified planning permission rules, local authority registers of available land for development, an onus on local authorities not to delay the planning process, and additional provisions around compulsory purchase.
Although there is still much to analyse, the HBA is heartened to finally see a technical document outlining how the government is going to tackle the housing shortage.
