HEALEY ANNOUNCES NEW POWER FOR PARISH COUNCILS TO BOOST AFFORDABLE RURAL HOUSING
Housing and Planning Minister John Healey will today (5 April) give a boost to rural communities with proposals to give a special planning power to parish councils to build new affordable homes. The proposals, to be consulted on this summer, will allow a limited number of affordable homes to be built in rural villages without the need for individual planning applications where the parish council backed the new homes.
Mr Healey wants to extend “permitted development” rights so that a maximum of 10-15 new affordable homes could be built when parish councils have set out clear evidence and design expectations. This means decisions on how many homes are required, what they look like and where they are built would be taken locally by those who are closest to what local communities need and want.
New guidance on social housing allocations Mr Healey published in December has also strengthened the scope for local authorities to ensure that people living and working locally are given more priority for affordable housing in rural parishes.
Mr Healey will say today:
“There is a real need for more affordable homes in rural communities, where the price of an average home is £40,000 higher than in towns and cities. My concern is to see new homes available at affordable rents, especially for local young people and their families who otherwise have little or no option but to leave the area. A handful of new homes can make a huge difference to the life of rural villages and make local schools, pubs and shops more sustainable. My aim is to place more power with parish councils to see new homes built.
“I propose to establish a permitted development freedom for parish councils to initiate the building of a small number of homes in their area without the need to gain planning permission from the local authority. This would help parish councils directly and swiftly meet the need for affordable local homes in rural areas. It will give parish councils the power to breathe new life into their villages and small towns.
“This would be a radical reform of the planning system and a significant new power and freedom for our most local elected councils”.
Mr Healey proposes to make the new permitted development right available to parish and town councils in settlements of less than 3000 people where the council identifies a registered social landlord as their development partner. He also confirmed that Green Belt, habitat sites and other important designated protections will be retained.
He will announce plans to consult on the details of the proposals during the summer, and also to seek views on other options which could support the same policy aim, including a system of prior planning approvals and wider use of Local Development Orders (LDOs).
A review commissioned by the Prime Minister from Matthew Taylor MP and published last year – Living Working Countryside – found that a long term lack of new homes in rural areas has created huge pressures that are now holding many rural communities back. The report confirmed that more affordable homes will help rural towns and villages prosper, and provide an essential boost to local businesses. With more opportunity to stay in their own communities, young people and key public service workers will be less likely to leave for cities in search of cheaper housing and jobs.
Notes to editors
- The Government recognises that there are real issues of affordability in rural areas. Figures from the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) in March 2009 show that the lowest house prices in rural areas are 7.4 times the lowest annual incomes, compared to 5.5 times the lowest annual incomes in urban areas. The average house is now over £40,000 more expensive in rural than in urban areas.
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