Govt grants automatic planning permission on brownfield sites

As well as introducing the new "zonal system", Business Secretary Sajid Javid announced at a Speech at Birmingham that he will devolve major new planning powers to London and Greater Manchester.

Additionally, Londoners seeking planning permission for upwards extensions up to the height of an adjoining building will be free to do so, providing there are no objections.

Sajid Javid said:

"The UK has long been incapable of building enough homes to keep up with growing demand. This doesn’t just frustrate the ambitious of hardworking people who want to own their own home – it also harms productivity and restricts flexibility in the labour market.

"So we’re going to introduce a new zonal system, which will effectively give automatic planning permission on suitable brownfield sites... We’ll make sure the homes that are needed get built – if a council fails to produce a suitable local plan, we’ll have it done it for them. And we’ll be devolving major new planning powers to London and Greater Manchester.

"Too many homeowners are frustrated by red tape that stops them extending their homes to accommodate growing families. It’s a particular problem in our crowded capital city. So today I can announce that the government will be working with the Mayor of London to make life easier for people who want a little extra space. We’re going to remove the need for need for Londoners to seek planning permission for upwards extensions up to the height of an adjoining building, provided your neighbours don’t object. It’s a simple step that, at a stroke, will take layers of bureaucracy and cost out of the planning system."

George Osborne said:

“Britain has been incapable of building enough homes.

"The reforms we made to the planning system in the last parliament have started to improve the situation: planning permissions and housing starts are at a seven-year high.

“But we need to go further and I am not prepared to stand by when people who want to get on the housing ladder can’t do so.

"We’ll keep on protecting the green belt, but these latest planning reforms are a vital part of a comprehensive plan to confront the challenge of our lifetime and raise productivity and living standards. This will not be achieved overnight and will require a truly national effort by government, business and working people.

"But with this productivity plan, I believe that we have taken the vital first step towards securing the prosperity and a livelihoods of generations to come.”

Ben Thompson, Managing Director, estateagent4me.co.uk commented:

“Historically, planning laws have often been found to be restrictive and a hindrance to housebuilding activity. This reform is welcome. Demand for housing has pushed annual house price growth to just under 10% as buyers compete for the limited number of properties available. Building more houses will help to stabilise the market and stop house prices growing above the rate of inflation and becoming unachievable for many.

"Making it easier and quicker to build houses will slow down price increases which will benefit first time buyers as well as those who are looking to move on from their current property.”

Jeremy Blackburn, Head of UK Policy at RICS, added:

"Stronger compulsory purchasing powers and a new ‘zonal system’ for faster delivery of housing on suitable brownfield land is a positive step towards addressing the gap between demand and supply.

"Some brownfield sites have been locked up for too long and these moves, coupled with a brownfield register and fund, will get them moving. Sites have to be deliverable, free of major constraint, capable of development and capable of supporting good quality new homes.

"Our research showed that we can build over 226,000 homes on existing brownfield land with existing permission over the next four years and while not all sites will be suitable, the task now is to quickly distinguish between what’s viable and what’s not – and more importantly – if there are genuine reasons why some sites might take longer, these should be publically stated. Then nobody is misled.

"If the knock on effect is that greenfield land has to be released, that should be done with equal urgency. The real objective here is meeting the housing challenge."

Andy Frankish, New Homes Director at Mortgage Advice Bureau, said:

“Today’s announcement marks a definitive step towards overcoming the ineffective planning laws that prevent healthy levels of housebuilding. It is good to see that the government has again acknowledged the extent of Britain’s housing shortage: demand has long outstripped supply, and the affordability problems faced by first time buyers are at risk of becoming acute.

“Proposals to bypass local council when granting planning permission for brownfield cites are long overdue. With such severe shortages of housing stock across the country, it is ludicrous that brownfields sites remain underutilised, and granting automatic permission is a common sense approach. The question over whether there is enough brownfield land to support Britain’s housing needs is a valid one. Although greenbelt land is rightly protected, in certain circumstances – such as when it is adjacent to brownfield sites – development on the greenbelt may be necessary.

“By devolving planning power to large metropolitan authorities in London and Manchester, local authorities will have more influence over housing development in the area and ensure this best suits the needs of its constituents. The question now is how long it will take the government to implement these changes: action must be taken as soon as possible if we are to stave off a worsening housing crisis.”