New generation of town houses
On 4 February 2018, the Housing Secretary Sajid Javid announced that the government will support the creation of a new generation of town houses in what has been described as a ‘shake up of city living’.
Cities like London and Manchester will be able to ease the pressure to develop on open spaces by simplifying the process of building at higher density on existing blocks of flats, houses, shops and offices.
The relaxed rules will allow up to two additional levels to be added to a property, as long as it conforms with the roofline of neighbouring buildings and maintains the character of the area. It will also be subject to safeguards for the preservation of listed buildings and conservation areas.
The government’s Housing white paper, published in February 2017, made the delivery of development in built-up areas an important goal. The new policy will be consulted on in Spring 2018, with the intention of including it in a revised National Planning Policy Framework.
Sajid Javid said; “The answer to building new homes isn’t always an empty plot, or developing on a derelict site. We need to be more creative and make more effective use of the space we already have available. That’s why we are looking to strengthen planning rules to encourage developers to be more innovative and look at opportunities to build upwards where possible when delivering the homes the country needs.”
Chief executive at the British Property Federation (BPF), Melanie Leech, said; “If we're going to successfully address the UK’s housing supply-demand imbalance, it's critical that we find bold new ideas. Making it easier to add floors to a property, so that an under-used house, becomes several flats, is a good example of an initiative which should encourage local authorities to think creatively about solutions in their area."
[edit] Find out more
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
Featured articles and news
A document can be called a bond or a guarantee. Does the name matter and what is the difference between them?
New briefing note is launched focusing on increasing knowledge of housing that promotes health and wellbeing.
Arbitration is a private, contractual form of dispute resolution used in the construction industry.
The European Parliament has approved a revised Energy Performance of Buildings directive.
One in six MPs supports the ring-fencing of retentions as proposed in the 'Aldous Bill'.
A stakeholder is anyone who has an interest in the process or outcome of a construction project.
BRE launches online self-assessment tool for ethical labour sourcing.
Tower refurbishment failed to meet safety standards on several counts, according to leaked report.
It may seem obvious but what does the term 'structure' refer to within a built environment context?
Carillion's liabilities could be much higher than previously thought, according to Receiver.
Photographing Historic Buildings, by the former head of photography at English Heritage.