All policy articles – Page 2
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NewsGovernment announces £50m to tackle homelessness as number of rough sleepers reaches record high
Announcement made as part of £3.6bn plan to combat homelessness
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NewsMinisters urged to change NPPF to allow councils to set higher carbon standards for new homes
Group claims proposed reforms to NPPF would act as ceiling for standards
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NewsSpike in Right to Buy applications as tenants rush to beat removal of high discounts
But ministers expect drop in sales in this year’s figures
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NewsGovernment’s New Homes Accelerator expands to smaller sites
MHCLG also launches London-based service
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CommentWhere is the digital planning revolution?
The potential for using technology to improve planning is huge, but progress is slow. Paul Smith explains what needs to happen to speed things up.
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NewsLondon to receive 60% of £2.5bn low-cost loan fund
Pennycook reveals more detail about loans intended to “secure additional homes over and above” those delivered with conventional grant funding alone
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NewsDecent Homes Standard: Government drops plan for mandatory floor coverings following concern from sector
Pennycook says revamped standard balances cost of improving existing stock with need to boost supply
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NewsSector reacts as MHCLG announces new social housing taskforce and changes to section 106 and HRAs
Details of rent convergence expected later today as part of affordable housing package
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NewsPennycook rules out allowing councils to use £2.5bn low cost loan fund
Housing minister also says government has no plans to review ‘new burdens’ on councils
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CommentWe don’t just need funding for adaptations – we need policy to drive delivery of new accessible homes too
Government must strike the right balance between adaptations and new build, argues Christina McGill
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CommentThe green belt has fuelled our housing crisis – so why is Labour reluctant to give it up altogether?
At a time of a housing crisis there is a genuine case for replacing green belt requirements, argues Simon Cox
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News‘If you cannot give me cash to build more homes, give me land’ Northern Ireland’s Lyons issues plea to fellow ministers
Lyons says he is looking at ‘innovative measures’ to boost delivery and pledges to increase starts this year
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CommentTackling the intransigent opposition of local groups to development
Ben Derbyshire, who is president of the London Forum of Amenity & Civic Societies, explains how he wants groups to adopt a more proactively positive stance
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CommentWill government’s aspirations for good design be derailed by under-resourced planning departments?
Pro-building planning reforms are undoubtedly a good thing for our industry but we must be careful to ensure that legitimate community concerns can still be heard, writes Denise Chevin
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CommentPlanning reform: Can Steve Reed save Christmas?
The fact that measures to standardise planning decisions will be made non-statutory is disappointing but planning reform can still be a valuable gift, writes Paul Smith
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CommentWhy Supreme Court nutrient neutrality ruling is a win-win for nature and housing developers
A recent court ruling has provided crucial clarity which could pave the way for more projects, writes Jeremy Gardiner
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In FocusHow the viability crunch is also putting housing design quality under strain
Mary Richardson examines how Britain’s viability crisis is squeezing design quality and stalling the creation of real places to live
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CommentThe Budget was a missed opportunity for housing affordability and supply
While some measures were welcome, Reeves’ package of policies fell short overall, writes Chloe Fletcher
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NewsBudget 2025: rent convergence details to be announced in January, Treasury confirms
Government says it wants to ”take time to get the precise details right”
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CommentRent convergence is essential for decent homes
Ahead of Wednesday’s Budget, Elly Hoult makes the case for rent convergence with a £3 uplift