Government White Papers on Housing & Development

Today has seen the publication of two long awaited documents:

1.Government White Paper on Housing—“Fixing our broken Housing Market”

It contains many new initiatives some of which are subject to consultation.  Of particular interest to us:-

• a proposed new definition of Affordable Housing which includes Starter Homes but removes the mandatory requirement to provide Starter Homes
• a proposed mandatory 10% Affordable Homes provision on sites of 10+ units (or 0.5+ hectares)
• a proposal to shorten the time scale for implementing a planning permission and enhanced use of completion notices where development has stalled
• a proposed new housing delivery test with a tiered approached to address under delivery using national policy and guidance

We will review the paper and provide further comment shortly.

2. A New Approach to Developer Contributions

We do not yet have the governments response to the review but it too contains some interesting provisions:-

• Strengthen the tests in Reg 122
• A new Local Infrastructure Levy which will be paid by all developers with Developments of 10 or more units being able to negotiate  s106 agreement
• Removal of pooling restrictions for S106 financial contributions

We will review and provide further comment shortly.

CIL Review: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/community-infrastructure-levy-review-report-to-government 

Housing White Paper: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fixing-our-broken-housing-market

Further comment on these White Papers will be provided by Holmes & Hills' Planning Law solicitors shortly.