Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 5
5
We agree with the Public Accounts Committee that the Government missed a crucial opportunity to...
Conclusion
We agree with the Public Accounts Committee that the Government missed a crucial opportunity to alleviate the housing crisis through its disposal of public land. While we understand the constraints around managing public money, it is nonetheless short-sighted to sell public land to the highest bidder when social housing providers struggle with the cost of land. The programme has not addressed the housing shortage nor the social housing shortage. (Paragraph 44) Building more social housing 53
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
To help make home ownership affordable for more people, and to help more people be able to rent their own home, we need to deliver more homes. We are seeing encouraging progress in producing more of the homes the country needs. The latest figures show that last year, over 241,340 net additions were delivered, up 9% on the previous year. This is the highest number in the last 32 years. We are implementing planning reforms to ensure our planning system creates and supports thriving communities and to improve the quality, quantity and speed of home building. • On 6th August 2020 the Planning for the Future White Paper consultation was launched, setting out proposals for an ambitious range of reforms that will aim to make the planning system clearer, quicker, more accessible and more certain for all users, including homeowners and small businesses. • The white paper sets out a pathway to a new English planning system which is fit for the future: supporting beautiful design, meeting the challenges of climate change and ensuring this country can build the homes it needs. • The consultation is open until 29th October and we are seeking views from stakeholders and the public during this period, as the starting point for establishing a reformed planning system. • There will be radical reform of developer contributions to simplify processes, save time and ensure development pays its way. A new nationally-set ‘Infrastructure Levy’ will replace s106 and the Community Infrastructure Levy, and be set in a way which raises at least as much, if not more, revenue (and delivers at least as much on-site affordable housing) as at present. Homes delivered through permitted development will be within its scope. Planning reform will make land available for building more quickly, but making the best use of surplus public sector land plays a critical contribution towards this vision. As announced by the Prime Minister on 30 June 2020, work will begin to look at a new, ambitious cross-Government strategy to look at how public sector land can be managed and released so it can be put to better use. This will include home building, improving the environment, contributing to net-zero goals and injecting growth opportunities into communities across the country.