Sajid Javid

Sajid Javid reveals new planning approach



The communities secretary Sajid Javid has announced an innovative approach to planning new homes to ensure they’re built where they are most needed.


The new approach – which was first suggested in the government’s housing white paper – will help give a realistic picture of how many homes are needed by each local area now and in the future.

It will also mean that more homes are built in areas where it is unaffordable, based on average earnings in each area.

Councils across England have spent an estimated £3m in taxpayers’ money every year on employing consultants to work out how many new homes are needed in their area.

The proposed changes will help increase housing supply and improve affordability, as well as helping to ensure councils work to a consistent approach to plan for more homes in the right places.

“As anyone who has tried to buy or rent a home recently would probably tell you, the housing market in this country is broken,” said Mr Javid.

“The simple truth is that for far too long we haven’t built enough homes and we don’t build them quickly enough.

“This new approach will cut the unnecessarily complex and lengthy debates that can delay housebuilding.”

The current government has pledged in its 2015 commitment to deliver 1 million homes by the end of 2020, and a further half a million more by the end of 2022.



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