G15 Response to Changes to the Current Planning System Consultation

The G15 has responded to a government consultation on changing the planning system. We share government’s aspirations around supporting people to make the dream of homeownership a reality, and help small builders out of this severe crisis. However, we have some reservations about the proposed methods of delivering these ambitions.

First Homes should be delivered in a way that does not reduce the supply of low rent homes or existing affordable home ownership products. Rather than introducing a mandatory national requirement for First Homes, local authorities should granted flexibility to decide whether First Homes are an appropriate alternative to shared ownership in their area.

It’s also a mistake to increase the threshold for affordable housing contribution to up to 40-50 new homes. Although we are well aware of the major contribution that SMEs make in delivering new homes across the country, and are absolutely in favour of direct support during this time, we could support them in more direct ways than taking away all developers’ duties to supply affordable housing.

We look forward to ongoing engagement with government around these proposals and the longer term plans in the White Paper.