Faster planning

The government has announced further plans to speed up the planning system as well as to make better use of land and vacant buildings to provide homes.

The government has already set out a package of reforms to deliver 300,000 homes a year by the mid 2020s through planning reform and targeted investment.

Now it has announced plans to consult on further measures to speed up the planning system as well as to make better use of land and vacant buildings to deliver the homes that communities need.

This includes more flexibility to extend upwards on existing blocks of flats, shops and offices, and making better use of space by increasing housing density.

This will need to be achieved, however, while still maintaining the character of residential and conservation areas and safeguarding people’s privacy.

The plans also suggest there should be clearer guidance to give more certainty for communities when land is needed to make a new town a reality.

The government has also proposed consulting on giving local authorities more flexibility to dispose of surplus land that could instead accommodate new homes.