Government plans for starter homes
On 29 March 2016, the government announced new rules for house-builders requiring that where sites contain 10 or more new homes, one in five must be a designated ‘starter home’. Ref DCLGDCLG, New government plans for 1 new home in 5 to be a starter home.
Starter homes are made available at a 20% discount from their market value, or cheaper, but their purchase is limited to first time buyers under the age of 40. The government sees this as a ‘major step’ towards its target for creating 200,000 starter homes and 1 million new homes by 2020.
The proposals also include provision for injured soldiers and partners of those who lost their lives in service, making them eligible for starter homes without the age restriction.
To limit the risk from speculators, the intention is that starter homes can only be resold to other first time buyers, at a similar discount, for five to eight years after purchase. There will also be sub-letting restrictions to guard against properties becoming opportunities for buy-to-let investors.
The government’s starter home support package consists of £2.3 billion for the first 60,000 starter homes, including £1.2 billion for brownfield land housebuilding.
Housing and Planning Minister Brandon Lewis said: “We want to ensure young people who aspire to own their own home can settle down and enjoy the security home ownership brings. Today’s proposals mean starter homes will be built on hundreds of housebuilding sites across the country, encouraging private and affordable housing is built side by side in mixed communities.”
However, in an interview with Designing Buildings Wiki in January 2016, Labour’s Shadow Housing and Planning Minister Roberta Blackman-Woods, said: “…while starter homes can be part of the solution to address the housing shortage, they cannot substitute for critically needed affordable housing for people on average incomes to whom starter homes are too expensive….they are only part of the solution to address the housing shortage.
“I worry that the definition for what constitutes ‘brownfield’ land is too vague and opens the door to ambiguity in planning and development. I am concerned about the government’s initiative that developers who build starter homes on brownfield land will be exempt from planning gain and that could lead to a deficit in resources for necessary infrastructure to support development.”
You can read the full interview with Roberta Blackman-Woods MP here.
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
ECA Industry Awards 2024 shortlist revealed
22 leading businesses from across the electrotechnical and engineering services sector.
Government unveils Skills England strategy
Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth.
New Government Hub for York Given Planning Green Light
For up to 2,600 civil servants, due for completion by 2028.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards
July update on Professionally Qualified and Academically Qualified Person Cards.
BSRIA Briefing 2024, November 22
Sustainable Futures: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
The CLC on driving competency in the retrofit sector
Previously published roadmap on skills for net zero.
The first labour government King's speech in fifteen years
Construction industry reactions, support and some concern.
CIOB Retrofit of Buildings Technical Information Sheet
What retrofit is, the approach to be taken and processes to be followed.
Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency
Historic England advice note 18, free download published.
10 retrofit projects revisited 10 years after completion.
Information orders, building liability orders and SPVs
Key BSA terms and how they impact special purpose vehicles.
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.