On track for 1.5m homes as planning rules set to change

Thousands of new homes could be built within walking distance of train and tram stations in England under proposed changes to planning rules. 

On Monday, Housing Secretary Angela Rayner unveiled a ‘revised’ National Planning Policy Framework, which has been described as the biggest rewrite of planning rules in more than a decade. 

Under the plans, councils are encouraged to take a ‘default yes’ approach to housing developments that are within a reasonable walking distance of train stations and tram stops. 

Meanwhile, if a proposed development is on green belt land, the government’s rules state they must have higher levels of affordable housing, be supported by the right infrastructure and include new or improved green spaces. 

In a statement on Sunday, Rayner said the proposals would help people who think they’re ‘being priced out of the communities where they want to live and work.’ 

She added: ‘By unlocking thousands of homes around well-connected transport hubs, we’re helping people live closer to work, school and the services they rely on, while backing local businesses and driving growth in our communities.

‘That’s how we’ll tackle the housing crisis and raise living standards for people in every corner of the country.’ 

Other changes included in the framework are: 

• More support for infrastructure including data centres and AI growth zones 
• Pubs will be better protected from being turned into housing or officers 
• A requirement for at least 40% of homes to be accessible on bigger developments 

The proposals form part of the government’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes by the end of the current parliament, with ministers claiming the country is around a quarter of the way towards the goal. 

However, the plans have been criticised by other parties. Richard Tice, deputy leader of Reform UK, said the plans were ‘in direct contradiction of Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda’.

‘Far from empowering local councils who actually know their communities, they strip power from the people who live there and hand it to Whitehall so ministers can ram through major housing developments while sidelining residents and ignoring the infrastructure that already can’t cope,’ he added. 

Dr Carole Easton OBE, chief executive at the Centre for Ageing Better, said her charity has welcomed the plans, but ‘the delivery of accessible homes must exceed the new minimum 40% threshold’. 

‘The government’s new National Planning Policy Framework, which will introduce a national minimum of 40% of new homes on major developments to be built to the M4 accessible and adaptable standard, will go some way to tackling the problem,’ she said. ‘But it is a missed opportunity to future proof England’s housing stock and go further, faster, to meet this appallingly high need. 

‘Whilst we are disappointed that this isn’t a more ambitious policy requiring all new homes meet this standard, we are pleased that the government has recognised that the accessibility of new build homes must be a core part of planning policy.’

Image: Leohoho/UnSplash 

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