Unlocking hidden homes

I have mentioned it before, but the report by the Intergenerational Foundation cannot be recommended highly enough.

http://www.if.org.uk/archives/7779/unlocking-englands-hidden-homes

The consultation on the Housing White Paper ends on the 2 May  and I would urge all readers of DanthePlan, even if they do nothing else,  to draw the DCLG’s attention to the report by emailing  planningpolicyconsultation@communities.gsi.gov.uk

The only thing that I would add to the recommendations made in  Unlocking England’s Hidden Homes would be to say that Local Planning Authorities could make Local Development Orders  which can have the same effect as a change to the General Permitted Development Order  and can include conditions subject to which a change could be implemented as ‘permitted development’.  Clearly not as good as a change to the GPDO that would apply to all councils but could be done while waiting for the Government to take the necessary action.

I also think that achieving new dwellings for as little as 5k to sort out plumbing, electrics, partitions and possibly stairs, would compare so well with new building on greenfield land that councils should introduce permissive policies in their development plans (local and neighbourhood plans) where permission is (still) required, and count the new dwellings and even anticipated new dwellings, against their housing land supply figures.  Grants could be made available that could be recovered on the sale (or rent) of the new  dwelling(s) and even justify a  specialist team with the necessary skills to streamline the delivery.

Well done the IF