Taylor Scott International News
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors has proposed a new solution to solve the UK's chronic housing shortage including the introduction of a new land classification. There are a raft of recommendations in the Property in Politics report with the new classification called Amberfield which would create a pipeline of 'ready to go' land, increase housing supply and promote development opportunities. Under RICS proposals, Local Authorities and communities will have to work together to label sites favourable for development as Amberfield and each Local Plan will have to include a set quota of Amberfield, ready to be developed for housing. The quota is expected to be set between 30 and 50% but the framework and guidelines for each quota would be open to consultation in order to match the specific needs of each Local Authority and community. Amberfield sites would have to be developed within five years and therefore Local Authorities will be required to approve planning consent for Amberfield within a set time frame, otherwise the Authority would risk being classed as 'failing' under the RICS proposed OfPlan assessment. The new classification will enable local housing needs to be met and would create a five year land supply that works for communities and builders. The community will have better understanding of the planning process, more control over what is built where, and be able to see the long term development plan. While both brownfield and greenfield play an important role in the current planning system, both classifications block or slow development and local growth is being impeded by extensive battles to bring forward land. RICS says that Amberfield will speed up the process and take out cost for both developers and local authorities, enabling homes to be built faster on the agreed sites. It will provide certainty to investors, unlocking development opportunities, and will also encourage local infrastructure investment. The review of land classification, coupled with the other RICS recommendations, including Development Delivery Units (DDUs) and a nationwide housing zones programme, will cut through the bureaucracy barriers, speeding up housing delivery and encouraging cooperation across local authority boundaries, stitching together the regions. The RICS Property in Politics report is the result of the largest consultation ever undertaken by RICS, with property professionals from across England sharing insight into the biggest challenges currently facing housing, planning and development, construction and infrastructure and what actions a future Government should take to remedy them. ‘A new classification labelled Amberfield would speed up the delivery of appropriate housing stock. The housing market plays a fundamental part in the UK economy and adequate, affordable housing supply is vital to the UK's economic growth. The planning system needs to be responsive to the needs of customers and increased confidence is needed in which sites can be taken forward,’ said Jeremy Blackburn, RICS Head of Policy. ‘We would suggest a quota of 50% Amberfield for most Local Authorities as it would enable them to deliver the appropriate housing stock required, but it… Taylor Scott International
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