New homes 'do not have to be built on greenbelt'
Thursday, 22 November 2007 12:00 AM
Government targets to build 240,000 new homes a year can be achieved without sacrificing the greenbelt, an independent review has concluded.
The Calcutt review said today new development should focus on brownfield sites, especially plots of disused land in inner-cities and urban areas.
In August, the Social Market Foundation thinktank argued the government must consider building on the greenbelt if it is to meet targets for 3 million new homes by 2020.
It concluded at least two million homes would need to be built on previously undeveloped land and urged people not to be squeamish about sacrificing the greenbelt.
John Calcutt was tasked by former communities secretary Ruth Kelly to investigate how the government could meet its ambitions to drastically increase the housing stock.
Reporting today, he said the targets were feasible.
But in selecting land for development, the review said more commercial and industrial land should be used and the proportion of greenfield development minimised.
Liberal Democrat communities spokesman Andrew Stunell said: "This report confirms that developing brownfield sites is integral to solving Britain's housing crisis."
Welcoming the review, housing minister Yvette Cooper announced a series of measures to prevent landbanking, where developers hold on to empty land in the hope values will rise.
Ms Cooper said: "We urgently need to build more affordable, greener homes for this and future generations.
"But we cannot afford to wait for developers who may drag their feet once planning permission has been granted, hoping to benefit from increases in land value.
"That's why we are looking at what changes could be made to the planning system to make sure that developers really are making a substantial start on their projects."
Ms Cooper confirmed the government will introduce a new definition of a "substantial start" by developers to avoid delays.
At present developers just have to dig a ditch within three years of planning permission and are under no pressure to complete projects.
The housing minister also announced new fast-track contracts to speed up development on public sector land.
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