News

Plans to increase planning fees by 35 per cent will not be enough to prevent a significant national shortfall or solve capacity issues in the sector.

Permitted development rights should be removed to ensure all conversions and new developments contribute to the delivery of desperately needed affordable homes across the country.

The LGA is calling for councils to be given powers in a Planning Bill in the Queen’s Speech to incentivise developers to build housing more quickly.

New analysis by the Local Government Association reveals nearly one in 10 new homes over the last two years was converted from an office and included no affordable housing or supporting investment in infrastructure such as roads, schools and health services.

“Councils acted instantly when the pandemic struck to address the immediate crisis of getting thousands of rough sleepers off the streets to protect them from the spread of coronavirus."

“Algorithms and formulas can never be a substitute for local knowledge and decision-making by councils and communities who know their areas best."

Councils could face an extra bill of £18 million to deal with new government housing standards, as revealed by research undertaken by the LGA. 

New One Public Estate and MHCLG funding aims to create 19,000 jobs and 17,000 new homes.

Telephone boxes are being used to “smuggle” advertising on to high streets across the country, with some areas experiencing an increase in applications of more than 900 per cent in two years.

The Local Government Association has today unveiled the Housing Advisers Programme – a new scheme to help councils tackle local housing challenges.