LONDON, Aug. 17 -- The government of the United Kingdom issued the following news:

Thousands of new homes will be built around England's train, tram and underground stations under new planning rules introduced today (Monday 17 August), helping familiesto live closer to work,schoolsand transport.

The common-sense changes will fast-trackqualityhomes in well-connected areas, making better use of underdeveloped land around stations while creating jobs,unlocking investment,drivinggrowthand connecting communities.This builds on the priorities set out by the government to ensure that planning decisionsgive proper consideration tothe proximity of public transport links.

Under the government'snewNational Planning Policy Framework, there will be a default 'yes'for homes within reasonable walking distance of well-connected stations, alongside new minimum expectations for how much housing should be built in these areas.It will also prevent excessive gold-plating where there are clear national standards already in place.

It comes as the government passes the quarter-way mark towards its stretching target of 1.5 million homes and goes further to get developments that meet clear standards moving quickly from plans on paper to spades in the ground.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner said:

"A safe, secure home is the foundation of opportunity, but too many people are being priced out of the communities where they want to live and work.

"By unlocking thousands of homes around well-connected transport hubs,we'rehelping people live closer to work,schooland the services they rely on, while backing local businesses and driving growthin our communities.

"That's how we'll tackle the housing crisis and raise living standards for peoplein every corner of the country."

Chancellor of the Exchequer, John Healey MP said:

"Making it easier for people to buy their own home is about more than a house. It is about security and families feeling they have a place they can truly call their own.

"We want to drive growth in every postcode and help more working people into home ownership. A secure home is the heart of all our lives, helping peopleput down roots,plan for the futureand build a good life for themselves and their families. This is about creating opportunity,prosperityand stronger communities across the country."

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said:

"Earlier this year, we published Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport. The steps announced today act on a key commitment we made as part of that Strategy, to support densification of development around well-connected stations to create vibrant,sustainableand well-connected homes and places.

"The changes being announced today turn long-held ambitions into reality for our communities. Densification, combined with high-quality walking, wheeling, cycling and public transport, will support healthier lifestyles, improve access to jobs and services, and protect important public transport services."

Pubs and music venues are the lifeblood of communities, localjobsand high streets -and the changes we are makingwill protect them from being lost without good reason.

The changes will also make it easier for councils to approve developments that create jobs, unlockinvestment,and deliver the shops, leisure facilities, cleanenergyand food production local areas need.

They build on measures announced last week to back farmers and rural businesses, including making it easier to deliver reservoirs, greenhouses, polytunnels and farm shops.

The government is also cutting unnecessarybureaucracyby reducing blanket consultation requirements that have slowed planning decisions.

Councils will no longer need sign-off from public bodies where specialist advice is not needed, while expert input will be focused on the cases where it adds most value. Sport England will continue to advise on significant cases, and the Gardens Trust and Theatres Trust will still be notified of relevant applications so they can playan important rolein the planning process.

Together, these reforms are part of the government's wider overhaul of the planning system - tackling the housing crisis, unlockinginvestmentanddriving good growth in every postcode.

Notes to editors:

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On Monday 17thAugustgovernment's policy statement on the final NPPF can be read in full here.

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The NPPF has been restructured to provide clearer national policies for both plan-making and decision-making, reducing reliance on subjective judgement and limiting duplication between local and national policy. It means that conflicting local policies will carry less weight where they are inconsistent with national decision-making policies. The main changes are:

* Stronger in-principlesupport for development,meaning a more explicit presumption in favour of development in sustainable locations, including development within settlements * Housing delivery and densification aimed at increasing housing supply though "default yes" support around well-connected stations and minimum density expectations around stations * Communities,designand accessibility changes including a national minimum number (40%) of accessible homes on major developments and stronger protections for community facilities * Stronger support for growth and infrastructure including support for AI Growth Zones and data centres * Streamlining decision-making by aiming to make planning decisions faster and more proportionate though things like reducing information requirements for smaller schemes and creating a new category of "medium" development *

The priorities set out by the Government in Better Connected: A Strategy for Integrated Transport, ensuring that planning decisionsgive proper consideration tothe proximity of public transport links. This can be foundhere.

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The governmenthas also publishedthe2024 and2025 HousingDelivery Test(HDT)results. The HDTis ameasurement of housing deliveryin the area ofrelevant plan-making authorities.Further information on theHDT is available onHousing Delivery Test - GOV.UK

* The government is streamlining the consultation requirements of several statutory consultees so that specialist advice is focused on the planning applications where it adds most value, helping councils make decisions more efficiently, whilemaintainingimportant safeguards. The government's response to the consultation on reforms to the statutory consultee system can be found here. onMonday 17thAugust.

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.