Can you fast track your way out of the housing crisis?
The House Builders Association responds to the recent DCLGproposal to fast track planning applications.
The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) announced plans that would local authorities to offer fast track services for planning applications. The Government expects these changes to speed up the planning process and the supply of new homes.
The House Builders Association (HBA) is concerned with the financial implications of these proposals on small and medium-sized house builders.
Rico Wojtulewicz, policy advisor for the HBA, said: “A tiered system reliant on financial influence or risk may not be the best solution to speeding up planning and solving the housing crisis. The costs of house building are considerable and further increasing them may be counterproductive. SMEs need access to finance since they’re usually unable to do build without full planning permission. Given that a planning application for a site of five homes may be in excess of £60,000, how much more will SME house builders be expected to pay? Will non fast tracked planning applications receive less focus?”
