Justin Young, RICS chief executive, says: “Setting localised housing targets to ensure that what is needed is built in the right places and with the right infrastructure, and working with local authorities that know their areas better than anyone, will help secure the bold ambitions of Government as well as providing jobs and opportunities.
“It is further good news that local plans will be reviewed, and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will assist and step in where needed, as we have previously called for. Our professionals are at the heart of the built environment, covering planning, development, construction, and cost management, and are ready and equipped to help push these changes forward.
“We have been calling for a Green Belt review, and applaud the introduction of clear, golden rules for Grey Belt. The proposed system of brown, grey, then green, should protect community spaces and secure needed but not unnecessary development.
“Planning reforms are a pullable policy lever for boosting economic productivity, and legislation that increases housing delivery across tenures, including affordable housing, will move the dial for those in need.
“We look forward to working with Government to secure the skills needed to make ambitions a reality, and await the long term housing strategy.”
Lettings and estate agents’ trade body Propertymark is similarly enthusiastic, saying it is keen to work closely with Rayner to help ensure a balanced mix of housing is delivered across the next parliamentary term and beyond.
Nathan Emerson, chief executive, states: “We have long called for an enhanced housing strategy to be developed and one that can deliver for generations to come, so it’s positive to hear this will become an integrated ambition moving forward. Ultimately, the future direction to deliver the 1.5m new homes promised must be driven by robust insight and delivered with precision via close stakeholder engagement.”
Meanwhile the Home Builders Federation says it recognises that “this is a moment where we can work together with government to address the national housing emergency and ensure that all aspects of the housing market are functioning more effectively.”
It says in return for the government’s commitment to build 1.5m homes, the home building industry commits to:
- Delivering more homes, faster: “We will increase delivery of new homes year on year in this parliament as affordability for purchasers and renters improves. We will work with all partners to try to improve access to affordable and green mortgage finance for homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers.”
- Placing affordability at the heart of what we do: “We will work with Registered Providers and Local Authorities, including through planning obligations, to support government’s ambitions to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, including targeting the delivery of 50% affordable homes on land released from the Green Belt and 40% for those large-scale new communities that emerge from the government's commitment to build a generation of new towns.”
- Continuing to drive improvements in the quality of new homes and places: “We will build high-quality, sustainable homes and places, the schools, transport links, GP surgeries, parks and other facilities that meet the needs of local communities. And we will support government work to improve the experience of buying a new-build home.”
- Making sure that homes are safe: “We are proud that UK house builders, through an industry-specific Corporation Tax surcharge and via an unprecedented voluntary multi-billion pound commitment, is the only sector to have supported government efforts to prevent leaseholders having to pick up the bill for life-critical building safety work.”
- Creating jobs for the future: “Delivering the homes the country needs would lead to the creation and sustaining of hundreds of thousands of new jobs and training places.”
- Transforming productivity and supporting the supply chain: “We will utilise modern methods of construction to increase the pace and productivity of housing delivery and support an expansion of capacity and innovation in the sector.”
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