An effective planning system is vital in order to respond to the current housing crisis in the UK, according to Galliford Homes…

Whilst John Prescott may have only been giving permission to developers for green belt land to be built under special circumstances, Chris Coates, a Managing Director of Galliford Try Homes recommends that before it releases Greenfield land the Government should set about rectifying the current planning system in order to maximise the delivery of Brownfield sites available to developers.

Chris comments: “An effective planning system is vital in order to respond to the current housing crisis in the UK and whilst the Government lends itself to reviewing policy and process, is it really identifying with the key concerns which surround land and ultimately planning issues?”

“Recent moves to speed up the planning application process have not always been successful with many councils choosing to refuse applications in order to meet deadlines.

Britain needs more land

Chris adds: “Painfully slow decision making by town planners has led to many brownfield sites in the UK being left dormant for considerable lengths of time, causing costly and extended uncertainty for many communities, and all whilst we are in the midst of a national housing crisis!”

“Whilst the word “sustainability” is invariably used in terms of housing production perhaps it should be linked more proactively to our land supply. Let’s get the system right before we throw more land at the problem!”

“Of course Britain will need more land eventually – the population is ever growing - the proportion of single person households is rapidly expanding and cities need room to grow, this is fact however should not be at the cost of our landscapes and wider countryside.”

“We can only hope that the positive exercise of anticipated Planning Performance Agreements will unlock Brownfield land in this country which is so desperately needed to assist with the delivery of further housing and sustainable communities.”