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Housing targets increased to get Britain building again

An overhaul of the planning system has been announced as government sets out tough decisions necessary to fix the foundations and grow the economy.

All councils in England are to be given new, mandatory housing targets to pave the way to deliver 1.5 million more homes – tackling the most acute housing crisis in living memory.

The new targets will mean councils must boost housebuilding in areas most in need, helping more people buy their own homes, removing the largest barriers to economic growth, and getting Britain building again.

The new rules set out today will reverse the decision last year to water down housing targets, by making them explicitly advisory, at a time when planning permissions were at a record low. The new approach reflects the level of ambition necessary to tackle the housing crisis and meet the government’s commitment to 1.5 million homes.

Supporting the government’s number one mission to grow the economy across the country, these new targets will flow into the development of local plans. It is through local plans that communities have a say in the building of the homes and infrastructure we need.

Currently just a third of councils have a plan that is under five years old, which is why government will take the tough decisions and step in where needed to drive progress, ensuring local areas get a say on how, but not if, homes are built.

The Deputy Prime Minister has written to every council Leader and Chief Executive in England to make clear that there is “not just a professional responsibility but a moral obligation to see more homes built”, and that she will not hesitate to use her powers of intervention should it be necessary – including taking over an authority’s plan making directly.

Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said: “Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis, delivering 1.5 million homes for those who really need them.

“And something I am personally proud of, our new flexibilities for councils will boost the number of social and affordable homes, and give working families a better route to a secure home.”

In addition to restoring mandatory housing targets, the method used to calculate them, which relied on decade old data, will be updated. The new method will require councils to ensure homes are built in the right places and development is proportionate to the size of existing communities, while adding an extra level of ambition in the most unaffordable areas.

The first port of call for development will be brownfield land. Reforms announced today will make explicit that the default answer to brownfield development should be “yes” and promote homebuilding at greater densities in urban centers, like towns and cities.

To help deliver 1.5 million homes over the next five years, councils will have to review their green belt land if needed to meet their own target, identifying and prioritising ‘grey belt’ land, which the government has today set out a definition for. This includes land on the edge of existing settlements or roads, as well as old petrol stations and car parks.

The update will make clear the requirement for councils to consider the proximity of new homes to existing transport infrastructure.

Where local authorities do not have up-to-date plans in place or enable sufficient housing to come forward to meet local targets, homebuilders can bring forward proposals on grey belt land. In all cases, land that is safeguarded for environmental reasons will continue to be protected.

Land released in the Green Belt will be subject to the government’s ‘golden rules’, which make clear that development should deliver 50% affordable homes, increase access to green spaces and put the necessary infrastructure is in place, such as schools and GP surgeries.

Alongside building the housing that we need, the government is committed to making it easier to build key infrastructure such as laboratories, gigafactories and data centres, as well as making changes to deliver more large onshore wind projects and solar development across the country.

In addition to these reforms to the planning system, the government is also taking steps to deliver quality affordable and social housing, working to reverse the continued decline in the number of social rent homes. This includes changes to Right to Buy, giving councils flexibility to use their receipts to build and buy more social homes. The government has started its review of the increased discounts introduced in 2012, with changes to be implemented in the Autumn.

The Deputy Prime Minister has also confirmed that details of future government investment in social and affordable housing will be brought forward at the next spending review, so social housing providers can plan for the future and help deliver the biggest increase in affordable housebuilding in a generation.

Responding to calls from the sector, the government has also confirmed that at the next fiscal event it will provide councils and housing associations with the rent stability they need to be able to borrow and invest in new and existing homes – while ensuring that there are appropriate protections for both existing and future social housing tenants.

Source: GOV.UK

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Interpon powder coatings help Hydro Building Systems Spain construct a new future in sustainability 

 

Hydro Building Systems Spain, a global manufacturer of aluminum profile systems, is extending its 20-year partnership with AkzoNobel and using the innovative Interpon Anodic range to give architects and designers more choice and flexibility than ‘traditional’ anodizing, with reduced environmental implications and cost.

 

As an Interpon Approved Applicator for many years, Hydro Building Systems Spain was already familiar with the support Interpon provides to its global operations. Now it was looking for further support to move away from anodizing, both because it had to be outsourced and because of its harmful effect on the environment.

 

Arantxa Oritz Barredo, Hydro Building Systems Spain Purchasing and Powder Management, says that with the Interpon Anodic range, Hydro can create the appearance of an anodized finish, but in a powder coating, and produce it in-house:

“The metallic effect finishes we are capable of creating are superb, and very well-received by our customers,” she says. “The quality of finish is further guaranteed by industry-leading warranties, and Interpon’s accreditation to Qualicoat Class I and II.”

 

Hydro is respected for its pioneering work in sustainability and started working with AkzoNobel after building a new manufacturing site in Spain at the start of the new millennium. Today it offers a choice of more than 175 different Interpon powder coatings in a range of colors and finishes. The Interpon D team works closely with Hydro Building Systems Spain to ensure its finishes are always on trend, enabling the client to build its own library of additional, bespoke colors from which its customers can choose.

 

As well as multiple colors, Hydro Building Systems Spain also offers powder coatings with imaginative textures and finishes and different levels of durability. This is important to protect surfaces from some of the more challenging climates to which Hydro Building Systems Spain’s products may be exposed, ensuring their color integrity and performance is maintained for many years to come.

 

Sanal Limoncuoglu, Regional Commercial Director for SEEMEA, says that proximity to the customer is important:

“Hydro Building Systems Spain benefits from AkzoNobel’s local manufacturing presence and knows that the quality of the Interpon powder coatings it uses is consistent everywhere. It is this consistency, and our global warranty system, that supports Hydro Building Systems Spain in winning projects all over the world. Their team can also reach out at any time for technical support or expert advice from our own team and across multiple departments, from quality to customer service.”

 

Arantxa is similarly delighted with how the partnership is evolving:

“When you’ve built a global reputation for the quality of your aluminum profile systems, and are committed to sustainability, you seek partners with similar ideals, and a shared ambition of continuous improvement. AkzoNobel shares our passion for innovation; the more Interpon innovates, the greater the innovation we can take to our customers,” she concludes.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE WEBSITE

 

 

 

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Housebuilding leads way in construction upswing

Construction output and notably housebuilding figures show encouraging growth, according to the latest data from the ONS.

Monthly construction output is estimated to have grown by 1.9% in volume terms in May 2024; this follows a fall of 1.1% in April 2024.

The main contributors to the monthly increase were a 2.8% increase in total new housing, with both private and public new housing increasing on the month.

Commenting on the latest numbers Beard Construction finance director Fraser Johns said: “Although more recent PMI data shows just how volatile the sector is, the news that both private and public new housing is leading this charge will be welcome to the many that rely on this sector. It is a real example of the resilience we continue to see from firms across UK construction.”

He added: “Until we see output and new orders increasing consistently month-on-month, we shouldn’t take anything for granted though. With the election now settled, the hope is we can all pick back up and continue to build momentum during the second half of the year. As we see borrowing conditions improve, with a potential base rate cut in the near future, this will certainly enable more clients to push ahead with plans.

Q New Homes director Michael Wynne echoed the positive sentiment: “Construction has gone from zero to hero in the space of just one month, moving from the being the weakest to the strongest sector of the economy in May.

“The jump in output can only be partly explained by the contrast between May’s good weather – which was officially the warmest on record – and the rain-soaked April, which delayed work on many building sites.”

He added: “Levels of new housebuilding spiked by 2.8% during the month, and while this is very welcome it’s worth remembering that this figure is flattered by comparison to the low levels seen during the first part of the year.”

He added: “A better test of the market’s health will come over the coming month, as housebuilders digest the reforms announced by the incoming Government and we anxiously await the Bank of England’s next interest rate decision at the start of August.

“The start of an interest rate cut cycle should unleash a surge of pent-up demand from both developers and homebuyers – which will determine whether today’s positive data is a blip or a bounce-back.”

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