Local planning authorities (LPA) will be required notify housing secretary Steve Reed if they intend to reject a planning application with at least 150 homes, under imminent new rules.
Speaking in the House of Commons yesterday (23 March), housing minister Matthew Pennycook confirmed that measures allowing ministers to decide whether to intervene will come into effect before the end of the month.
These rules are being introduced via revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework, which went to consultation at the end of last year.
The housing minister also confirmed that the proposals will be extended to commercial developments of more than 15,000 sq m (161,500 sq ft).
The government said it was making the move to provide “further support” to housebuilders, and forms part of its wider ambitions of delivering 1.5 million new homes by the end of this parliament.
“Over the past 20 months, this government has taken a series of bold and decisive steps to lay the grounds for high and sustainable rates of housebuilding and improved infrastructure delivery in the years ahead,” Pennycook said.
“I am announcing a series of further targeted measures to help stimulate housing supply and infrastructure provision.
Pennycook also announced that the National Housing Delivery Fund has allocated £234m of devolved land and infrastructure grant funding for mayoral strategic authorities in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough; the East Midlands; Greater Lincolnshire; Hull & East Yorkshire; Tees Valley; West of England; and York & North Yorkshire.
The funding will be provided as a continuation of the existing Brownfield Housing Fund to support mayors to collectively bring forward up to 8,000 new homes.
Please visit:
Our Sponsor