Summary
New government rules could let local councils take over housing sites left unfinished by developers. Developers will need to meet building deadlines and report progress yearly to get planning permission. The aim is to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029.
Key Facts
- Developers may lose land to councils if they leave housing sites unfinished for too long.
- Before getting planning permission, developers must agree to timelines and report progress each year.
- The government wants to build 1.5 million new homes in England by 2029 to help tackle the housing crisis.
- Developers who repeatedly miss targets could lose future permissions and face financial penalties.
- A Planning Reform Working Paper outlining these rules will be published soon.
- Housing charity Shelter supports the plans, highlighting the need for more social housing.
- There are 1.3 million families on social housing waiting lists, and a record number of people in temporary accommodation.
- The government plans to test mixed-tenure housing developments to speed up building affordable homes.
