The government has launched a consultation on proposals to streamline the planning process and ensure more new homes are built in areas where the need for them is greatest.
Under the new proposals, assessing local housing need will be standardised, the government said.
This will replace the current, "fragmented system", which it blamed for delays and higher up costs for local authorities.
The government wants to create a system that is based on publicly available data and takes into account the affordability of homes in the local area.
Information on local demographics, house prices and earnings will be used to calculate the number of homes required.
As well as meeting its goal of building 1m homes by the end of 2020, the government said it plans to ensure the properties built reflect the different size, type, tenure and range of housing that is needed in particular areas.
It is encouraging more local authorities to work together to address housing needs – particularly where developmental constraints exist, such as Green Belt land.
The new approach is expected to reduce the £3m a year spent by local authorities on producing strategic housing market assessments.
It is also intended to cut the time it takes to put plans in place, give communities greater control of where homes should be built and save local taxpayers’ money.
The changes to the National Planning Policy Framework are expected to be made in 2018, following which councils will have up to a year to prepare a statement of common ground showing how they will work together to address local need.
Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This new approach will cut the unnecessarily complex and lengthy debates that can delay house building.
"It will make sure we have a clear and realistic assessment of how many new homes are needed, and ensure local communities have a voice in deciding where they go.”
The government’s proposals were originally set out in the Housing White Paper, which was launched in February.
It has today (14 September) launched a public consultation on the plans that is set to run until 9 November.
Ray Boulger, senior technical manager at London-based John Charcol, said the government needed to ensure there was an appropriate balance of power between local authorities and developers on issues such as planning appeals and infrastructure development.
“On some of the big developments, how do you get the developer to contribute to infrastructure? What local authorities all need to do is either say to the developer should pay x amount of money or say the developer has to provide the facilities. One of the key things is to get the balance right.”
He also called for more consideration of the types of properties to be constructed, including whether developers should be encouraged to build small houses and flats.
simon.allin@ft.com
