David Bexon, Chief Executive of the UK’s leading online new homes specialist SmartNewHomes.com, welcomed the Review, but warned that: “…unless the government takes action to translate the recommendations into government policy, the report amounts to nothing more than hot air.”
He continues: “There remains a reluctance amongst local authorities to move development applications through the system effectively, largely because they are hampered by the current planning system. The calls for housebuilders to demonstrate a willingness and capability to respond to the recommendations are already being addressed but there needs to be progressive steps to enable this to happen.”
David Bexon has several recommendations to encourage developers to increase the rate of new building activity in line with the report’s targets.
Recommendations
- First time buyers need to be incentivised to purchase property, by way of raising the stamp duty thresholds to more realistic levels. Similarly, developers who build properties for first time buyers should receive tax concessions, to encourage the development of smaller and more affordable starter properties.
- The building industry recognises that it has a need to invest further in skills and production techniques to overcome the skills shortage and increase customer satisfaction levels. The government can assist companies with this investment in people, by way of incentives for new apprentices entering the industry.
- The government needs to work with the industry to provide the infrastructure that is required for large scale regeneration and to update the existing section 106 agreements that currently fund so much. New homes need to be in areas where people want to live. It is not appropriate or practical to rely solely on brownfield sites, but current restrictions make it very difficult to develop greenfield areas.
- It is essential that planning moratoriums imposed by several councils in the North are removed. Much of the existing old stock in these areas, which the councils claim meets their housing targets, is often unwanted by those looking for property, whereas demand for new homes is strong.
- Major overhauls to planning procedures are required. The whole system needs to be speeded up, with local authorities penalised for overrunning on planning processing times. This is the stage at which many of the delays with new developments occur and, whilst maintaining the correct stages of consultation, it should be possible for the whole process to become more efficient.
For further information on SmartNewHomes visit www.smartnewhomes.com or email [email protected]
