NAPIT welcomes Government’s overhaul of planning system to pave the way for 1.5m more homes

  Posted by: electime      31st July 2024

Steve Melton, NAPIT Commercial & Compliance Director, responds to the Government’s announcement that all councils in England are to be given new, mandatory housing targets.

The new targets will mean councils must boost housebuilding in areas most in need, helping more people buy their own homes and meet the government’s commitment to 1.5 million homes.

There will be a review of the greenbelt to identify ‘grey belt’ land to meet local housing needs, with ‘golden rules’ driving 50 per cent delivery of affordable homes.

Under the new system every area must have local housing plans – with the government ready to take action if areas fall off track.

Steve Melton said “It is encouraging that the Government is taking action to ensure more homes are built which will help people get on the housing ladder and also grow the economy across the country.

“While there has been a lot of talk about whether housing is built on brownfield, green belt or even grey built land, one thing is certain is that the houses are built using technologies such as heat pumps, solar panels and electric vehicle charge points to ensure efficiency and drive the UK to meet its Net Zero targets.

“To do this, there also needs to be a supply of new, sufficiently skilled installers in the renewable electrical & microgeneration trades.”