The UK has one of the worst housing shortages in the developed world, with 4.3 million fewer homes than we need. This doesn’t just make housing more expensive – it also hits our country’s productivity and harms living standards across Britain. A challenge this size needs big, bold reforms.
The government’s latest response is its Planning and Infrastructure Bill, which was published on Tuesday. Will it get Britain building again?
Some of the biggest changes the Bill makes are for infrastructure projects. The Bill should reduce the power of quangos to block infrastructure from being built. In the past, infrastructure developers have been forced by regulators to build things like a £100 million bat tunnel to protect wildlife. The Bill should prevent things like this from happening by allowing builders to invest in nature elsewhere instead.
When it comes to the housing crisis, the Bill’s most significant reform is for planning committees. At present, even if an application to develop new homes is approved by a professional planner and fits an area’s local plan, it can still be blocked by councillors who sit on planning committees.
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