Labour announces planning rule changes and building programme

July 14, 2024 by Alan

House building

The new Labour government has announced that it is planning major changes to the rules around planning in the UK, as well as targets for the number of homes to be built.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has stated that the government intends to make the planning laws less restrictive than they are at the moment. Under its plans, individual councils will be able to determine which areas within their authority are used to construct new housing, but will have targets to fulfil. If they fail to adhere to these, the government could take the matter out of their hands.

The government has set a national target of 1.5 million new homes to be completed in the UK between now and 2029. Reeves stated that building companies within the private sector will be essential to the success of its strategy. According to Mortgage Strategy, Reeves outlined her plans for councils when it comes to housing in a Treasury speech:

“So the answer cannot always be no; if the answer is always no, then living standards will continue to decline. We have got to ensure that families can get on the housing ladder.”

Targets for each local council area will be set after the National Policy Planning Framework has been updated. Councils will be expected to set aside sites in greybelt and brownfield areas for the building of new homes.

This news is something that anyone who has done a CeMAP course must welcome, as the lack of housing supply is one of the biggest market problems.