12.03.18
Government aims for rural housing boost with ‘creative’ new planning rules
The government has pledged to “be more creative” with planning policy after a new policy was revealed today giving rural planners more flexibility.
Housing minister Dominic Raab launched the measures, which will allow councils to permit developments of up to five homes on former agricultural sites, rather than the current three.
The decision is part of the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (DHCLG) ongoing push to reach 300,000 new homes each year by the end of this government, with Raab last week revealing a new £15.8m Planning Delivery Fund meant to support local authorities.
“We need to be more creative if we are to meet the housing needs of rural communities,” the housing minister said.
“That’s why I’m changing planning rules so rural communities have more flexibility on how best to use existing buildings to deliver more much needed homes for families. This is part of our comprehensive reform programme to build the homes Britain needs.”
Raab joined the DCHLG after communities secretary Sajid Javid was given greater responsibility over housing in January’s cabinet reshuffle – another part of the government’s housing push.
In addition to allowing more homes to be built, this new policy will allow farmers to build larger agricultural buildings by increasing the limit for a new development from 465m² to 1,000m².
Top image: White May
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