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Planning in 2023

03/01/2023

2023 will see the UK taking some major steps forward with planning policy reform. The UK government has announced measures to place local communities at the heart of the planning system as part of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. The measures aim to build the right homes in the right places with the right infrastructure, ensuring the environment is protected and giving local people a greater say on where new development should be placed.

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Spring Statement 2018

23/03/2018

The Chancellor presented his first Spring Statement to Parliament earlier this month which follows on from the Autumn Budget 2017 setting the ambitious plan to tackle the UK’s housing challenge and build the homes the country desperately needs. Here’s a summary of what it included for housing in the UK.

The investment programme announced at the Autumn Budget 2017 set a figure of at least £44 billion over the next five years to put the UK on track to raise the supply of homes. The Government’s target is to reach a supply of 300,000 new homes a year on average by the mid-2020s. The Spring Statement 2018 confirmed that this was in motion. It was stated that the Government is working with 44 areas on their bids into the £4.1 billion Housing Infrastructure Fund to help ensure homes have what is required to get them started. They also confirmed that the Housing Growth Partnership fund will be more than doubled to £220 million and London will receive £1.67 billion to start building a further 27,000 of the capitals affordable homes. The process for improving transport in English cities is confirmed to be making good progress with the Government taking bids from cities across England for the reaming £840 million of the £1.7 billion allocation announced in the Autumn Budget 2017.

The Letwin Review of build-out rates was not published alongside the Spring Statement and instead a four-page letter offering an interim update on the work inquiry, focusing on what is happening on large sites operated by large house builders. The anticipate draft document will follow by end of June.

To read more on this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/more-support-to-boost-house-building-momentum

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Rising UK Population Impact on Housing

09/03/2018

The UK population is projected to increase by 3.6 million (5.5%) over the next 10 years. This is from an estimated 65.6 million in mid-2016 to 69.2 million in mid-2026. The rising UK population is only set to grow further form there with a projection to pass 70 million by mid-2029 and be past 72.9 million by mid-2041 (ONS).

What does this mean for the UK’s housing and where will this growing population live? With the long standing housing crisis and shortage of supply the UK needs to increase the number of houses being built each year. The number of households set to rise is greater than the population rise due to the growth of single occupancy households. To deal with this we are likely to see an increased building on greenbelt land and further expansion of the urban jungles into the surrounding countryside as has always been the case throughout history. More housing is necessary to cater for this long term growth and reduce prices by ensuring the supply keeps up with demand. If this supply of housing fails to stay in line with or outpace the demand it will inevitably increase the cost of living for the population. With the correct approach to the planning process well designed and efficient use of land can be achieved.

The Housing Charity Shelter estimates that the UK needs a minimum of 250,000 new homes a year. The figures released at the end of last year show that there were 217,350 additional dwellings for 2016-17, up 27,700 on the year before; although an increase the UK is still falling short in meeting its housing needs for the growing population.

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