Build, build, build – the importance of regeneration and housebuilding

How important is housing regeneration?

The government has made it a priority to ensure that Britain builds more houses. It’s an issue that needs to be addressed, as demand is far outstripping supply. This is not just about building family homes, but all kinds of dwellings.

By recognising the importance of regeneration and housebuilding, the government is both addressing this shortage and making large-scale reforms to planning legislation. Local authorities are being encouraged to allow more houses to be built, but it’s vital too that amenities and services are increased in line with a rise in construction. In this blog, we’re going to look at how important it is – for now and future generations – to build, build, build.

Building new homes, enhancing communities

We’ve already looked at the types of land that are available to developers – green, brown and grey belt – but what’s crucial is identifying potential sites that will benefit from new housing and unlocking them for building.

It’s astonishing, for instance, that 77% green belt land within one mile of a railway station remains undeveloped. Railway stations are vital transport hubs and many commuters rely heavily on them for work purposes. It’s vital to look at the positioning of railway stations in relation to potential housing sites, and see where existing infrastructure and communities can be enhanced. 

In July, following the General Election, the government announced the measures it would implement for an increase in construction productivity. The Ministry of Housing issued a statement that it was forming an expert taskforce to spearhead a new generation of new towns, which would ‘kickstart economic growth and get Britain building again’. This is great news for housebuilders, who have often seen their desire to develop vacant plots or reused land stifled by planning red tape or ‘nimbyism’ opposition of ‘not in my back yard’.

Regeneration expert Sir Michael Lyons has been named Chair of the ‘New Towns Taskforce’. He set out a long-term plan to deliver largescale new communities of at least 10,000 new houses. Appropriate locations for the new towns will be recommended within 12 months, following a consultation.

Unlocking land potential

This will signal the largest housebuilding programme since the postwar boom period. These new towns will help unlock the economic potential of existing towns and cities across the country.

The programme aims to continue to drive growth and regenerate areas that have been held back by constraints to their expansion. While it will include large-scale new communities that are separate from existing cities, towns and villages, a larger number will be urban ‘extensions’ and regeneration schemes too. The new towns will also help meet housing needs, by aiming to include 40% of affordable housing, with a focus on genuinely affordable social rented homes. Beyond the creation of new communities, housebuilding activity has an important role to play in a growing economy, through its extensive supply chains and networks, which in turn generates additional output, employment, spending and tax revenue.

At the core of these new communities will be a ‘New Towns Code’. This will ensure developers meet the demand but also make sure new towns are ‘well-connected, well-designed, sustainable and attractive places where people want to live’. Though the programme will create largescale communities of at least 10,000 new homes each, many will be significantly larger. The government has acknowledged that increased housebuilding encourages growth and boosts the economy. 

The new government proposals are good news for CB Homes, as any policy that encourages land with new-build potential to become accessible is a welcome step in the right direction.

If you have an area of land, in Cheshire or close by, that you think might be suitable for development, please contact us today.