The Times – New use it or lose it Proposal – Deadlines combined with Levies

Times

Housebuilders will be told to “use it or lose it” under plans being discussed by ministers to force them to use land for which they have planning permission.A crackdown is being considered on the practice of “land banking”, with the introduction of time limits on planning approval for big developments.More than 1.1 million homes have been approved for construction in the past ten years but have not been built, according to analysis by the Local Government Association. Critics have accused housebuilders of restricting supply to drive up house prices.

Robert Jenrick, the housing secretary, warned developers this year that the government would tackle land banking. He told the Home Builders Federation: “We can’t deny that there is a major perception problem — people feel strongly about this. So we want to take action to ensure builders build out at the pace promised.”The Times now understands that the government is considering a “sunset clause” — an expiry date for planning permission by which point plots of land must be developed. The deadlines could be combined with levies. Bo th options would apply only to larger sites to ensure that small and medium housebuilders were not treated unfairly. “We’ve got to tread carefully, but a mixed approach could work,” a government source said.The government may also tighten rules on retrospective planning permission to ensure that developers obtain approval before starting work. Fees will be increased and enforcement will be stepped up for those who deliberately break the rules. Boris Johnson has set a target of building 300,000 homes a year by the middle of the decade as spiralling prices lock millions of young people out of the property market. The average age of a first-time buyer has risen to 34.