HBF supports Government’s steps to unblock planning system in King’s Speech

In the first State Opening of Parliament, King Charles set out new legislation prioritised by the new Government to “get Britain building” with a Planning and Infrastructure Bill.

Following the speech, Neil Jefferson, Chief Executive of the Home Builders Federation, said: “The ambition on housing delivery and policy proposals put forward to deliver them are positive and welcome. Planning has been the biggest constraint on house building in recent years and the measures proposed will address the main areas of concern by bringing more land forward for development more quickly.

“Housing delivery has a range of determinants and will require a number of policy areas are addressed. Moves to unblock the planning system are a huge step forward but we will also need to see moves to help increase mortgage availability, especially for young people, if we are to get to the levels Government is aiming to deliver.

“Building the homes the country needs will address the social issues our housing crisis is creating, provide young people with access to decent housing, whilst creating tens of thousands of jobs and boosting investment in communities in every area of the country.”

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For media enquiries, or to arrange an interview, contact HBF’s communications team at media@hbf.co.uk.

Notes to editors

1. The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal representative body for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. HBF member firms account for some 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from widely recognised national firms, through regionally based businesses and small local companies: HBF.co.uk
2. HBF has published a housing blueprint for the next government, detailing measures it believes are crucial to tackling decreasing housing supply and addressing existing barriers to home builders delivering much-needed homes, including:
   • calls for a new, targeted first-time buyer scheme, the expansion of green mortgages and the abolishment of stamp duty for the purchase of homes with an A or B EPC.
   • finding a resolution to nutrient neutrality - including calls to bring forward legislation to unblock 160,000 homes currently on hold due to Natural England’s disproportionate mitigation measures.
   • reinstating mandatory housing targets and the Five-Year Housing Land Supply,
   • reform of the Standard Method of Housing Need
   • ringfencing planning application fees for planning purposes
   • acceleration of the implementation of National Development Management policies.
   • developing a roadmap for the talent pipeline needed to deliver low-carbon, sustainable housing