Michael Gove, the Levelling Up Secretary, has ‘threatened’ to strip councils of their responsibilities for planning when producing their housing plans, in an interview with The Times.
Speaking to The Times, Michael Gove said that the proposals would mean that councils in England would have three months to put in place plans to meet their housing needs. Failure to so, would see the councils lose their planning powers to independent planning inspectors.
Following on from that, Michael Gove confirmed that councils would not be expected to set aside greenfield land for housing. They would also be able to block developments that might alter their local areas ‘character’.
Housing targets are also expected to be watered down, despite concerns that this will hinder the current Government’s commitment to build 300,000 new homes each year.
Gove stipulated that despite having missed the 300,000 housing target for the last five year since it became a manifesto pledge it is now apparently within sight, adding:
“If you see interest rates going back to where they should be, then we can easily meet it [the 300,000] in the next parliament.”
Angela Rayner, Labour deputy leader, said:
‘The devastating impact of this government’s reckless decision to abolish local housing targets will have real consequences for housebuilding rates across England, threatening to lock a generation out of getting a secure home of their own.”
Rayner, further adding on X (formerly Twitter):
“The Conservatives should be getting spades in the ground and delivering the homes Britain needs. Instead, they are taking us backwards and locking a generation out of a secure home. Labour will jump-start planning and deliver the new homes we need.”
One Response
Sorry agree with the gov, the wrong party or people would give new or repaired homes to immigrants, or people who haven’t contributed to HMRC, national insurance, DWP, what’s happening to this country, going soft.