Government Plans to Increase Housing Density

Secretary of State for Housing Robert Jenrick has outlined the Government’s ambitions for a new approach to housebuilding. As part of these plans, some residential blocks could be increased in height by up to two storeys to boost housing density in urban areas and provide more homes in towns and cities.

Planning Reforms to Drive Housebuilding

Following Wednesday’s Budget, Robert Jenrick announced a series of planning reforms aimed at encouraging local authorities to kickstart a new wave of housebuilding. Councils are being urged to:

• Encourage housing-led regeneration of high streets
• Approve building upwards on already-developed land and railway stations
• Densify existing residential areas
• Make the most of under-utilised brownfield sites

Funding to Support Regeneration

To facilitate these changes, the Chancellor has pledged an additional £10.9 billion to help communities regenerate brownfield land, invest in infrastructure, and provide more homes.

From this new funding package:

• £400 million will be allocated to making better use of brownfield land
• A national brownfield map will be published later this year
• Plans will be made to allow construction above stations to maximize transport hubs
• The Local Housing Need formula will be revised to encourage urban development
• New permitted development rights will be introduced to allow extending residential blocks by up to two storeys

Addressing Criticism of Permitted Development Rights

Permitted development rights have faced widespread criticism for allowing commercial buildings to be converted into low-quality residential units without going through the usual planning process. In response, the Government will consult on a new permitted development right that enables vacant commercial, industrial, and residential buildings to be demolished and replaced with well-designed new housing that meets natural light standards.

Speeding Up the Planning Process

One of the biggest challenges to housebuilding is delays in the planning system. Even with strong intentions, new home delivery will stall if projects remain stuck in the planning stage for years. To address this, the Government will publish a Planning White Paper later this Spring, detailing proposals to:

• Modernize the planning system
• Accelerate planning decisions
• Make it easier for communities to engage in development decisions

A New Era for UK Housing Development

With these changes, the Government hopes to pave the way for delivering 300,000 new homes per year. By encouraging local authorities to build upwards, use brownfield land more effectively, and speed up planning approvals, the goal is to create more housing opportunities in towns and cities across the country.