Gove consults on strengthening brownfield development

Every English local authority must prioritise brownfield development, with housebuilders also able to convert commercial buildings of any size into new homes, under the next stage of the government’s Long-Term Plan for Housing.

Today (February 13), the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has launched a consultation on strengthening planning policy for brownfield development. Its proposals mean that local councils will need to be “less bureaucratic and more flexible in applying policies that halt housebuilding on brownfield land”.

In England’s 20 largest cities and towns, planning authorities will, under the consultation proposals, have to follow a “brownfield presumption” if housebuilding falls below expected levels.

“This will make it easier to get permission to build on previously developed brownfield sites, helping more young families to find a home,” DLUHC stated.

The consultation also seeks views on reviewing the threshold for referral of applications to the mayor of London. This follows levelling up secretary Michael Gove’s announcement of a review of the London Plan in December, with Gove stating that the mayor Sadiq Khan was underperforming on affordable housing delivery.

The London Plan review, also published today, recommends the introduction of the brownfield …