Campaigners welcome Michael Gove statement on housing policy

CPRE Berkshire has welcomed the statement by Levelling-Up & Communities Secretary Michael Gove on amendments to the Levelling-Up & Regeneration Bill

CPRE Berkshire has welcomed the statement by Levelling-Up & Communities Secretary Michael Gove on amendments to the Levelling-Up & Regeneration Bill (LURB). In particular, CPRE has welcomed the announcement that the Government is

• Abandoning the damaging, centralised mandatory housing targets that have led to needless, unaffordable and poorly designed greenfield developments, in favour of an advisory system that takes local character and need into account
• Bringing an end to ‘land-banking’ – the practice developers use to sit on land they have acquired permission for while it accrues in value – a huge cause of the lack of housing being actually built
• Introduction of stronger regulation of the short-term holiday lets market that’s been crippling many rural communities – from greater council tax charges to a new registration scheme for holiday lets
• Local authorities being given greater powers to promote brownfield development, and a wider review into brownfield development.