8.2.1 Planning
8.2.1.1. Put Local Authorities in the driving seat for plan-led development by requiring them to make a plan for 15 years of housing need, working collaboratively with neighbouring Councils where necessary to identify sites. We will strengthen the Duty to Cooperate to help authorities – like Cambridge, Oxford and Luton – with insufficient space within the Local Authority boundary to meet housing demand to grow, through development on sites beyond the Local Authority boundaries. This long-term approach will enable us to secure the homes we need while being much stricter about proposals that deviate from the Local Plan.
8.2.1.2. Improve housing needs assessments to ensure they respond to demand, including through price signals, rather than simply need, and segment more effectively demand from different kinds of household, including high-quality shared accommodation for young people. All areas will be expected to plan for the needs of older people for age-appropriate housing and we will work with Local Authorities to help people who wish to ‘right size’, particularly in later life.
8.2.1.3. Update planning law to introduce the concept of ‘landscape scale planning’ and ensure new developments promote walking, cycling, car sharing and public transport and improve rather than diminish access to green spaces.
8.2.1.4. Prioritise development on brownfield and town centre sites and bring to an end the permitted development rights for converting offices to residential.
8.2.1.5. Attach planning conditions to new developments to ensure homes are occupied, tackling the growth of ‘buy to leave empty’ investments from overseas in property hotspots like London.
8.2.1.6. Levy up to 200% Council Tax on second homes where they judge this to be appropriate.
8.2.1.1. Put Local Authorities in the driving seat for plan-led development by requiring them to make a plan for 15 years of housing need, working collaboratively with neighbouring Councils where necessary to identify sites. We will strengthen the Duty to Cooperate to help authorities – like Cambridge, Oxford and Luton – with insufficient space within the Local Authority boundary to meet housing demand to grow, through development on sites beyond the Local Authority boundaries. This long-term approach will enable us to secure the homes we need while being much stricter about proposals that deviate from the Local Plan.
8.2.1.2. Improve housing needs assessments to ensure they respond to demand, including through price signals, rather than simply need, and segment more effectively demand from different kinds of household, including high-quality shared accommodation for young people. All areas will be expected to plan for the needs of older people for age-appropriate housing and we will work with Local Authorities to help people who wish to ‘right size’, particularly in later life.
8.2.1.3. Update planning law to introduce the concept of ‘landscape scale planning’ and ensure new developments promote walking, cycling, car sharing and public transport and improve rather than diminish access to green spaces.
8.2.1.4. Prioritise development on brownfield and town centre sites and bring to an end the permitted development rights for converting offices to residential.
8.2.1.5. Attach planning conditions to new developments to ensure homes are occupied, tackling the growth of ‘buy to leave empty’ investments from overseas in property hotspots like London.
8.2.1.6. Levy up to 200% Council Tax on second homes where they judge this to be appropriate.