Propertymark supports the ‘Brownfield Passport’ to expedite housing approvals, proposed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government.
- The proposal includes reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework, targeting housing development on brownfield sites to save time and costs.
- Propertymark highlights the need for increased housing supply, emphasising the impact on both purchase and rental markets.
- The organisation calls for planning policies that meet local community needs and address the housing crisis effectively.
- Henry Griffith of Propertymark stresses the importance of detailed parameters in the ‘Brownfield Passport’ to reflect local housing needs.
Propertymark has expressed its support for the proposed ‘Brownfield Passport’ initiative by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government. This proposal aims to streamline the approval of new housing developments, particularly on brownfield sites, by setting clear parameters and criteria for local councils. This initiative seeks to cut down on the time and costs associated with planning approvals.
The Ministry, as part of its consultation on reforms to the National Planning Policy Framework undertaken on 30th July 2024, outlined this initiative as a means to gather feedback from industry stakeholders. The intention is to formalise guidelines that could facilitate a quicker acceptance of proposals by local councils, as long as they meet the established criteria.
Propertymark, while raising concerns about the current supply of homes, highlighted the necessity for changes in planning policy to boost the housing availability across various tenures. This concern directly links to the imbalance between the demand for and supply of homes, impacting market prices for purchases and rentals.
The professional body further emphasised that any planning proposals must take into account the local housing requirements and infrastructure demands. Allocating adequate time and resources in defining the parameters of the ‘Brownfield Passport’ is essential, according to Propertymark, to ensure these needs are met efficiently.
Henry Griffith, Policy and Campaigns Officer at Propertymark, remarked that this concept, if implemented effectively, could not only accelerate planning proposals but also ensure new homes align with community needs. He stated, “Propertymark supports the concept of a ‘brownfield passport’, especially if it helps speed up planning proposals and can ensure any new homes built reflect the needs of the local community.”
Propertymark advocates for thoughtful implementation of the ‘Brownfield Passport’ to support swift and community-focused housing developments.
