Greater measures granted to local authorities to help build “beautiful, democratic, and environmentally friendly” homes

Government announces new measures which they claim will help authorities deliver on housing targets

The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) have tabled a number of plans to parliament which they claim “delivering much-needed housing, boosting local infrastructure and strengthening environmental protections” are at the heart of their aims.

The announcement makes key amendments to the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill put forward this week, which the government claims will put power in the hands of local people to bring forward development they want to see and clamp down on slow build out by developers.

The new measures will follow the Government’s BIDEN principles:

• making sure new development is Beautiful
• supported by the right Infrastructure
• a more Democratic system where communities have their say
• enhances the Environment
• and creating better Neighbourhoods shaped by the people who live in them

This announcement follows measures in the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bills which will see local authorities given greater autonomy in deciding housing policy in their constituencies.

Newly reappointed Levelling Up secretary Michael Gove in his first speech said the government would be vetoing planning permission for developers building “ugly homes”. He stated:

“If we do make sure that in the planning reforms we are bringing forward, people understand that new homes will be beautiful, they will be accompanied by infrastructure, there will be democratic decision-making, there will be environmental enhancement and that we are creating new neighbourhoods, then we can build new homes and additional infrastructure that this country needs to power the growth to which all of us are committed.

We will use all the powers we have in order to make sure that developments which are not aesthetically of high quality don’t go ahead.”

He went on to accuse developers of ignoring democratically voted decisions on where new houses should be built. He claimed the new powers granted to local authorities would help eradicate this issue by inflicting penalties on those who do not follow guidelines.

In addition to this, Gove doubled down on the Conservative government’s manifesto which pledged to build 300,000 homes a year, despite former Prime Minister, Liz Truss, claiming she wanted to remove “Stalinist” top-down targets and recent home building figures falling well short of this figure.

News which will be welcomed by local authorities is that the DLUHC announced last week that plans to build thousands of new homes on derelict land has been planned to help reduce the strain on the housing sector. Greater funding has also been announced with almost £35 million from the £180 million Brownfield Land Release Fund 2 being allocated to 41 councils to help kickstart regeneration in towns and cities.

Cllr James Jamieson, Chairman of the Local Government Association, said:

“We are delighted to be a key partner in supporting the Government’s £180m Brownfield Land Release Fund (BLRF2).

Councils play a vital role in driving progress to provide more and better housing, and the awarding of this fund will ensure English councils unlock their brownfield land for new homes and deliver local housing priorities.

With built-in support from the One Public Estate programme, councils can tackle complex and challenging brownfield sites to benefit their communities.”

The plans set out to level up areas around the country by boosting local economies whilst also setting out to protect green spaces and ensuring new homes match local infrastructure.

Lucy Frazer MP, Minister of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, supported the prospective measures as she said:

“Levelling Up means creating vibrant and beautiful communities where local people and businesses can thrive. The measures we are setting out today will put protecting the environment at the heart of our plans, while bringing forward much needed new homes across the country.

We will make sure that new development is surrounded by the right infrastructure and that local people are given an opportunity to shape their neighbourhood.”

Water Minister Rebecca Pow added:

“These measures will help us to deliver the homes that this country needs, whilst protecting our precious environment.

It is vital that some of our most important wildlife sites are protected against nutrient pollution and water companies will need to step up and play their part to clean up our rivers. These new environmental requirements will ensure this happens.”