Government Intervention Needed to Boost Britain's Building
Housing Secretary Michael Gove is set to warn housing officials that they must speed up the approval process for new homes in order to meet the country's growing housing needs. In a speech tomorrow, Gove will announce a consultation on forcing Whitehall pen pushers to reduce approval times for new developments. If officials fail to make a decision within a specified timeframe, applications will automatically be approved, provided all other requirements have been met.
Delays in the Approval Process
While quangos such as Natural England and Historic England are legally obligated to make a decision on planning applications within 13 weeks, major developers are currently waiting an average of over 12 months for a decision. Gove plans to intervene in cases where council planning departments are causing delays in house building.
Government Support and Intervention
Gove's proposal has been welcomed by developers, who believe it is a step in the right direction. However, they caution that it is only a small part of the solution. The housing industry representatives argue that overall government building policies are failing the public. Gove has previously urged councils to increase their efforts in delivering the necessary homes, and the government is providing support to help them do so. Councils that continue to delay the process may face government intervention.
Empowering Local Authorities
Gove will also address concerns of Tory NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) by confirming that local authorities will have the freedom to assess their own housing needs, without relying on central government formulas. Compulsory housebuilding targets will be reduced and town hall chiefs will have the responsibility to determine how many new homes are needed locally. They will also be required to publish local housing plans and provide up-to-date data on the speed of decision-making for planning applications.
Record Low Planning Permissions
New data reveals that planning permission for new homes has reached a record low. In the past 12 months, 2,778 developments across Britain were granted planning permission, which is a decrease of 2% compared to the previous 12 months and 20% fewer than the same period last year. Developers have warned that the supply of new housing next year may drop below 200,000, the lowest figure in a decade.
Concerns and Criticisms
Stewart Baseley, executive chairman at the Home Builders Federation, expressed concern over the impact of government policies on the housing industry. He believes that the government's plans to remove planning targets and consequences will result in fewer new homes being built and will be a victory for NIMBY backbenchers.
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