Commenting on Matthew Pennycook’s announcement of new draft changes to the NPPF set to unlock the governments 1.5 million homes, our CEO, Antonia Jennings, said:
“A safe, secure home is the foundation for a decent quality of life. Where we live has direct implications on our health, our wellbeing and our livelihoods, as well as the next generation’s ability to learn and grow. The government’s prioritisation of a stable, rule-based planning system is critical to ensuring everyone can access a home.
Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework have significant implications in the capital. The most notable change for London is the default ‘yes’ to building suitable homes near railways stations. In combination with the policy on ‘grey belt’ land and new measures which are set to increase density, this could unlock hundreds of thousands of homes in and around the capital – with the infrastructure in place for Londoners to hop on a train to work.
It’s encouraging to also see the support for SME builders, a crucial part of London’s housebuilding machinery. With around 10,000 households on the social housing waiting list in Lewisham, and 2,700 in temporary accommodation, it’s encouraging to see this London Borough included in the rollout of the Small Sites Aggregator, with financial support for SME builders to specifically build social housing. The planning system must continue to support the social housing sector as the number one priority.
It’s important to reiterate that London is the epicentre of the housing crisis. Our social housing waiting list is double the population of Cambridge with 336,000 households waiting for a decent home. Our temporary accommodation crisis continues to cost local councils £5.5 million every single day. Meanwhile, the implications of London’s housing crisis on productivity, our economy and our health continue to climb.
The planning system is a critical part of the housing system. For the whole to function effectively, each part needs to be fit for purpose. Next on the government’s agenda must be fixing our property tax system, which distorts an already-broken housing market.”