We recently heard Theresa May’s plans to boost the UK’s housing market by encouraging more developments by loosening the council’s guidelines for planning permission. Gary Porter, the Conservative leader of South Holland council in Lincolnshire strongly defended the planning system, declaring nine in ten planning applications are approved.
No doubt Theresa May’s proposals come as promising news for Millennials in particular, many of whom are concerned about their prospects of becoming homeowners.
New proposed planning rules indicate that homeowners would have the ability to add two storeys to their houses in response to the UK’s rising population and pressure to provide more housing.
So what does his mean for the future of Britain’s landscape? Eventually, tall high-rise buildings throughout the UK? This may of course not be agreeable to all, particularly as this may destroy the quaintness of Britain’s residential areas. Certainly building upwards in the city regions seem to be the way forward, and what a fantastic opportunity for developers and to relieve the pressures of providing sufficient student accommodation and for Millennials to purchase their first home.
According to UK comparison website, Lendingexpert.co.uk Dave Beard comments that they saw a remarkable increase in mortgage applications for new build properties over the course of 2018 and into 2019.
Such plans seem a far cry from the usual Brexit talks, however, any discussion of house building in the UK must be considered with the implications of Brexit. Firstly, an anticipated labour shortage following Brexit puts pressure on contractors to be able to cope with an increase in development throughout the UK. Secondly, the issue of trade –how will Britain cope with a growing demand for construction materials if the UK are unable to negotiate a good trade deal? Such questions raise concerns that the government may have called for more housing and development prematurely, although, rethinking the planning conditions throughout the UK seems a step in the right direction.
