Propertymark backs the proposed ‘brownfield passport’ to expedite housing approvals, a concept put forth by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
- The initiative aims to establish clear guidelines for developments on brownfield sites, potentially reducing time and costs involved in the planning process.
- Propertymark highlights the need for these reforms to bolster housing supply and meet diverse housing demands effectively.
- The organisation stresses the importance of reflecting local community needs in planning policies to address the ongoing housing crisis.
- Propertymark calls for significant allocation of resources to ensure local housing needs and infrastructure requirements are adequately met.
The proposed ‘brownfield passport’ is intended to fast-track housing approvals, provided developments adhere to predefined criteria. This move by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government seeks to simplify the planning process by focusing on brownfield sites, which are previously developed lands that hold the potential for redevelopment. By doing so, the initiative could save valuable time and reduce the costs commonly associated with housing proposals, thereby injecting efficiency into the approval system.
Propertymark, an influential voice in the property sector, has endorsed this proposal, urging that it should lead to an increase in housing supply to balance the existing demand-supply disparity. The group’s concern centres on ensuring that both purchasing and rental markets benefit from the changes, as a lack of adequate housing significantly impacts pricing across the board.
According to Henry Griffith, Propertymark’s policy and campaigns officer, the organisation is in full support of this measure, especially as it promises to expedite the planning process and aligns new constructions with local community needs. He notes that the persistent housing crisis is exacerbated by planning delays, often fuelled by local opposition. Therefore, aligning planning proposals with local preferences could mean quicker occupancy for new homes, which is crucial amidst growing housing demands.
Furthermore, Propertymark emphasises that while drafting these ‘brownfield passports’, local planning authorities must dedicate sufficient resources and time to define concrete parameters that fulfil local housing necessities and broader infrastructural goals. This meticulous groundwork is vital in ensuring that any new housing developments genuinely serve the communities they aim to accommodate.
The proposed ‘brownfield passport’ is seen as a potential solution to accelerate housing approvals, reflecting community needs and addressing the housing crisis.
