King’s Speech 2024: Housing Reforms and Local Government

By The Nexus Gazette.

17 July 2024

In a bold move to address the housing crisis, the UK government has unveiled plans to reform the planning system, significantly altering the power dynamics between local residents and new housing developments. During the King’s Speech, Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, pledged to “take the brakes off Britain” by introducing a series of bills aimed at reshaping housing policies1.

1. Local Residents’ Ability to Block New Homes:
   • Under the proposed reforms, local residents will lose the ability to outright block new housing projects in their area.
   • Instead, they will have a say in “how, not if” houses are built. This means that while they won’t have veto power, they can still voice objections related to design and style.
   • Local authorities will be tasked with identifying suitable land for housing, and there will be a presumption in favor of building on such land.
   • If councils cannot find suitable land, the government will step in to identify and allocate it.
2. Green Belt Land and ‘Grey Belt’ Designation:
   • The reforms may include designating certain green belt land on the outskirts of cities as “grey belt.” This designation would make it easier to develop housing in those areas.
   • By repurposing low-quality green belt land, the government aims to accelerate housing construction.
3. Keir Starmer’s Vision:
   • Keir Starmer emphasized the need to create wealth across the country, allowing people to progress based on their talents and hard work.
   • The reforms aim to support sustainable growth by streamlining the planning process and addressing the housing shortage.
4. Economic Growth and Infrastructure:
   • The government’s statement ahead of the King’s Speech highlighted the importance of building more homes and infrastructure.
   • By enabling democratic engagement in the planning process, the reforms seek to remove major obstacles and promote economic prosperity.

In summary, the proposed changes signal a shift toward a more proactive approach to housing development, prioritizing the urgent need for affordable homes while balancing community input and economic growth1. As the legislation unfolds, its impact on local communities and the housing market will be closely monitored.

Resources:

1.https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/local-residents-lose-power-to-block-new-housing-planning-reform/

2.https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/LLN-2024-0039/2024-0039-King’s-Speech-2024-Housing-communities-and-local-government-large-online.pdf

3.https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-07-17/factbox-the-kings-speech-a-guide-to-the-new-uk-governments-proposed-laws

4.https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/LLN-2024-0039/2024-0039-King