23 August 2024
Following the recent government announcement and proposed updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the housing sector is poised for significant growth in its efforts to meet the country's need for housing.
Alex Bennett, Managing Director of MEC, offers his perspective on how these changes are already shaping the industry:
"We are pleased that the government has confirmed the reintroduction of mandatory housing targets, with a yearly goal of 370,000 homes. Since the update, we have already seen positive shifts in the industry with projects being revived, new instructions coming in, and there is a noticeable push for quicker submission times. Additionally, the recent reduction in interest rates has further increased confidence, making mortgages more accessible and driving even greater momentum in the sector.”
One of the key updates is the introduction of a ‘vision-led’ approach to transport planning, as outlined in paragraph 112 (a). From a technical standpoint, this change shifts the focus to considering how transport patterns and methods will evolve over the lifespan of a development. While this may seem like a minor adjustment, it represents a significant opportunity for development proposals to better align with the needs of local planning authorities (LPAs) and the communities they serve.
"MEC’s Associate Director, Chris Heaney, comments.",
“We’re optimistic that this shift in policy will lead to more creative and sustainable travel solutions, with a stronger focus on active travel. It encourages better collaboration with local planning authorities and provides opportunities to address key challenges more effectively.
Instead of focusing on short-term ‘predict and provide’ capacity needs, developments will now be guided by long-term sustainability goals, marking an important shift for the planning and development sector toward more community-centric projects.”
At MEC, we proudly offer expert engineering and environmental services to housebuilders, developers, planning consultants, and architects nationwide. With extensive experience working with strategic land promoters and many of our team members having previously worked directly for housebuilders, we efficiently manage the transition from pre-planning through to construction.
The MEC team looks forward to playing a crucial role in helping the housing industry deliver on this initiative to build high-quality and affordable homes. As these policy changes take effect, we are committed to staying at the forefront, helping our clients navigate this evolving landscape.
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