Housebuilding around well-connected train stations in England will be given a default “yes” under new government plans designed to accelerate development and support regeneration.
The policy, announced on 18th November, forms part of the next phase of reforms intended to streamline planning decisions and help deliver the target of 1.5 million new homes this Parliament.
Under the proposals, developments near rail, tram and other high-capacity transport hubs will be fast-tracked if they meet set criteria, with minimum density expectations to maximise the potential of well-connected land.
The measures will also apply to certain Green Belt sites considered suitable for sustainable growth.
Councils will be required to notify the Government if they plan to refuse schemes of 150 homes or more, enabling the Housing Secretary to intervene and take the final decision.
The reforms would also remove mandatory inquiries for applications called in by ministers, allowing written representations to be used where appropriate.
A parallel plan to streamline statutory consultations aims to reduce the number of referrals by up to 40%, with a consultation proposing to remove Sport England, The Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust from the list of automatic consultees.
The announcement builds on the launch of Platform4, the Government-backed property company tasked with unlocking 40,000 homes on brownfield land near transport hubs, including sites in Newcastle and Manchester.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “I promised we’d get Britain building and that’s exactly what we are doing. But it has to be the right homes in the right places and nearby transport links are a vital part of that.
“We’re making it easier to build well-connected and high-quality homes, using stronger powers to speed things up if councils drag their feet, and proposing to streamline the consultation process to cut back delays.
“This is about action: spades in the ground, breathing new life into communities, and families finally getting the homes they need.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “We’re ending years of dither and delay by green lighting affordable new homes for working people.
“This is another demonstration that our Plan for Change is getting spades in the ground faster, connecting people with jobs and opportunities closer to where they live, and boosting towns and cities across the country.”
