Keyland Seeks To Deliver 150 New Homes Including Innovative Self-Build Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, is seeking consent from North Yorkshire Authority to deliver an innovative new housing development centred around its sustainable approach to development. The plans for 150
The House Builders Association (HBA), the housebuilding division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) has reignited its campaign for the planning system to adopt five clear site size definitions, replacing the current, arbitrary ones of ‘Minor’ (one to ten homes) and ‘Major’ (ten and above). Richard Beresford, Chief Executive
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has confirmed the delivery of 284 new energy-efficient homes in Enfield, as part of a development on land at North Middlesex University Hospital. The project, being delivered in partnership with Vistry Group and the Hyde Group, is the latest milestone in the Mayor’s ongoing
Great Places Housing Group has formally submitted plans for the first development to come forward under the newly approved masterplan for the regeneration of the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood in east Manchester. The proposal outlines a new affordable housing scheme comprising 82 apartments for social rent, to be constructed on
RSK has successfully supported Heidelberg Materials UK in achieving planning permission for the company’s Padeswood carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in North Wales – the first carbon capture enabled cement works in the UK – representing a groundbreaking project for the cement industry. Planning permission was received from the
A major new multi-generational housing scheme is set to take shape in Congleton after the McGoff Group secured unanimous planning approval for its proposed development on Morley Drive, the former site of John Morley Limited. Approved at a recent planning committee meeting, the joint application from the McGoff Group and
Planning activity must increase substantially if the government is to meet its target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029. That is the key finding from the latest Planning Application Index, TerraQuest’s quarterly analysis of Planning Portal data. Based on applications for new homes rather than planning approvals or completed
Newham Council has unanimously approved Pollard Thomas Edwards’ striking 29-storey riverside development for The Pickstock Group on Stratford High Street. The mixed-use Build to Rent scheme delivers 355 homes – 25% affordable – alongside a Spacehub-designed public garden, linking Bow Back River to the High Street. It also features a
Glenigan’s March 2025 Construction Review reveals project pipeline pressure, with hopes pinned on the newly enacted Planning and Infrastructure Bill to spark a turnaround Today, Glenigan, Powered by Hubexo (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the March 2025 edition of its Construction Review. The
The Government’s plan to make it easier to build on green belt is likely to have limited impact on North East housebuilding in the short term. Under changes introduced by Labour shortly after the election, lower quality green belt land will be designated so called ‘grey belt’ and released for
Keyland Seeks To Deliver 150 New Homes Including Innovative Self-Build Keyland Developments Ltd, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister-company to Yorkshire Water, is seeking consent from North Yorkshire Authority to deliver an innovative new housing development centred around its sustainable approach to development. The plans for 150 homes in Pickering, North Yorkshire include a mix of housing to deliver a diverse and inclusive community. The circa 12.4 acre site is located north of Whitby Road on the north-eastern edge of the market town of Pickering between existing communities and a new county park. The vacant site has been identified by Keyland as prime for a high-quality, sustainable development guided by its ‘Six Capital’s’ approach ensuring positive environmental, social and economic outcomes. The masterplan has been devised by award-winning architects Tate + Co, whose past projects include working with The Eden Project, and seeks to create a holistic community and sustainable development of 150 homes including areas of public space and a large-scale ‘green corridor’ for Pickering. The proposed housing mix of 1-4 bed homes includes SME builder plots, self/custom-build opportunities and volume-built homes to reflect a forward-thinking approach to housing delivery. This innovative strategy is aimed at supporting local builders, encouraging architectural diversity and meeting a wide range of needs including up to 35% affordable housing. Matthew Turnbull, Land & Planning Manager at Keyland, said; “Following our recent community consultations, this development represents a significant opportunity to deliver much-needed new homes for the Pickering area. The sensitive and sustainable design supports inclusive community growth, promotes active and healthy lifestyles, enhances ecological networks and positively contributes to Pickering’s economic and social fabric. We look forward to receiving feedback on our plans which we are confident will make a valuable and lasting addition to the town.” Laurence Pinnfire, Director at Tate + Co, added; “Working to Keyland’s ‘Blueprint for development’, the proposed scheme will be an exemplar of sustainable design. Demonstrating our commitment to Regenerative Architecture, the sympathetic masterplan takes into account the nature of the site, the character of its surroundings and the location’s existing areas of biodiversity to create a diverse and inclusive, community environment. New green links will provide improved connections with the local town and new county park. The masterplan will also deliver high-quality, ecological habitat. The team here at Tate + Co is delighted to be part of such an important – and positive – project for North Yorkshire.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The House Builders Association (HBA), the housebuilding division of the National Federation of Builders (NFB) has reignited its campaign for the planning system to adopt five clear site size definitions, replacing the current, arbitrary ones of ‘Minor’ (one to ten homes) and ‘Major’ (ten and above). Richard Beresford, Chief Executive of the NFB, said: “In order to build 1.5 million new homes and save our SME builders, we need a planning system that is fit for purpose, prioritises placemaking, and enables builders of all sizes. Our proposal for five different site sizes based on development impact would end the arbitrary, problematic two site size approach and aligns with what is already going on in local planning, while ensuring the Government’s planning reforms can deliver growth and good planning outcomes.” In 2018, the HBA was successful in inserting a paragraph into the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) to support small and medium-size sites. However, with the then Conservative government focusing on tweaks rather than reforms, the HBA scaled back it’s ask to a ‘Medium’ sized site of between 10 and 50 homes. Although this was never taken up by the Conservative government, the term ‘medium’ was added to the NPPF, alongside a site size of ‘up to one hectare.’ NPPF reforms did not achieve their intended ambition. Data shows an increasing reliance on large site allocations, while non-allocated ‘windfall’ sites, typically under one hundred homes, are not given as great planning focus, however they can make up more than 50% of new local supply. To address this, the NFB and HBA are calling for the following site sizes to be included in planning policy: Rico Wojtulewicz, Head of Policy and Market Insight for the NFB, said: “Smaller sites of 1 to 10 homes support projects best targeting local demand. Sites of 10 to 50 are focused on organic growth. Sites of fifty to one hundred support almost all SMEs and do not greatly impact existing infrastructure. Meanwhile sites of 100 to 249 and 250+, whether urban or rural, create a threshold which ensures planners can strategically build out their communities or boundaries. Different site sizes also allow planning reform to avoid unintended consequences, such as making planning more expensive for SMEs, creating more burdens for non-allocated sites, or to target support, for example streamlining planning for sites creating the lowest levels of local impact. Although redefining site size is not a silver bullet to fix planning, it ensures that from the outset the system and reforms are set up to succeed, so we can achieve a planning system that supports better placemaking and recognises the value of all builders, whether micro, small or large.” The NFB’s ‘Size Matters’ report will available in the ‘Research and Political’ section of Ask NFB https://ask-nfb.builders.org.uk/documents-category/research-and-political/. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has confirmed the delivery of 284 new energy-efficient homes in Enfield, as part of a development on land at North Middlesex University Hospital. The project, being delivered in partnership with Vistry Group and the Hyde Group, is the latest milestone in the Mayor’s ongoing drive to tackle the capital’s housing crisis. The homes will be a mix of social rent and shared ownership, set within a development that includes low-rise flats and terraced properties ranging from one to four bedrooms. “I’m determined to do everything in my power to make housing more affordable and sustainable for Londoners, which is why I’m partnering with Vistry Group to deliver 284 new homes at North Middlesex University Hospital – a 100 per cent genuinely affordable housing scheme,” said the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan. “In addition to delivering much needed new homes, this landmark development will feature new green spaces and first-class community facilities – including a nursery and café – serving not only future residents, but the wider community as a whole. “Tackling housing pressures in the capital and delivering affordable new homes for Londoners remains a top priority for me as we work together to build a better, fairer London for everyone.” The homes will meet high standards of energy efficiency and design, including triple glazing, dual aspect layouts, and advanced ventilation systems. They will be connected to Enfield’s new borough-wide low-carbon energy network, which removes the need for individual boilers and is expected to reduce energy costs for residents. In addition to housing, the scheme will provide 1,500 square metres of green space, a community café, nursery, and a 3,000 square metre office building to support local jobs and services. The development is designed to integrate with the hospital campus and benefit the wider community. Kevin Delve, Managing Director of Vistry East London, said: “We are thrilled to partner with the GLA and Hyde to deliver 284 homes in Enfield, of which 100% will be affordable, meeting a crucial need for high-quality housing. “Drawing on our extensive experience in delivering transformational residential-led projects in London, this mixed-use development will not only provide much-needed homes but also new office space. “We will also deliver a new park, café, and nursery, ensuring long-term benefits for the wider community and helping to create a thriving, well-connected place for people to live and work.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Great Places Housing Group has formally submitted plans for the first development to come forward under the newly approved masterplan for the regeneration of the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood in east Manchester. The proposal outlines a new affordable housing scheme comprising 82 apartments for social rent, to be constructed on a vacant site at the corner of Grey Mare Lane and Ashton New Road. The brownfield site was previously home to the Manchester Bar pub, which was demolished in 2020. The planned development will include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, with features such as private garden spaces for select ground-floor homes, a communal garden, balconies for most upper-floor units, and high-quality landscaping throughout. The scheme also includes a new pedestrian link aimed at improving connectivity from Newcombe Close to Grey Mare Lane and Ashton New Road. The project has been developed in close collaboration with Manchester City Council, One Manchester, and This City, and forms a key part of the broader Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood masterplan, approved in September 2024. The long-term plan will deliver 1,000 new homes, including a substantial portion of affordable units, as well as new green spaces and community infrastructure. Helen Spencer, Executive Director of Growth at Great Places Housing Group, commented: “We are delighted to submit our plans for the first of our planned affordable housing developments as part of the wider regeneration of the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood. This project represents a significant step forward in our commitment to providing high-quality, affordable homes for the community in East Manchester. “This development has been made possible through our close partnership with Manchester City Council, One Manchester, and This City. Together, we are dedicated to transforming the Grey Mare Lane neighbourhood into a vibrant and sustainable community. We look forward to seeing these plans come to fruition and making a positive impact on the lives of local residents.” The development is the first of two proposed developments in the area to be delivered by Great Places, with details for a second affordable homes development on a site on Sunny Lowry Road expected to be submitted next year. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
RSK has successfully supported Heidelberg Materials UK in achieving planning permission for the company’s Padeswood carbon capture and storage (CCS) project in North Wales – the first carbon capture enabled cement works in the UK – representing a groundbreaking project for the cement industry. Planning permission was received from the Welsh Government on 4 April 2025 – five months ahead of schedule. Padeswood carbon capture and storage project, which will connect to the HyNet North West project, aims to be the first net zero cement facility in the UK and a global exemplar for the deployment of carbon capture technology at an existing cement works site. Once operational, it will capture and store approximately 800,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum, capturing up to 95% of CO2 emissions from the existing Padeswood cement kiln. RSK Environment Principal Environmental Consultant Harry Cross said the project is the furthest advanced carbon capture project at an operational cement works in the UK by some distance. He said: “We are proud to have achieved planning permission for this important and rewarding project that demonstrates the UK leading the way on deploying CCS in the cement industry. “Our work here saw RSK Environment acting as environment, consents and permitting lead, including coordinating the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and project managing the development of national significance (DNS) application. We were also able to draw on the skills and experience of 12 additional RSK Group businesses, including Joanna Berlyn from Stephenson Halliday as planning lead and Copper Consultancy as communications lead for the programme of community engagement and consultation.” It is estimated that the project will create up to 500 additional jobs during the construction phase and will also create around 50 direct, long-term operational employment opportunities. The project also proposes the creation of four new ponds, nine hibernacula and 17 refugia (places where amphibians can rest during the day and escape from predators and the sun and, in winter, where they will hibernate). It is envisaged that the planting of mixed deciduous woodland and the enhancement of grassland will cover an area of around 10.13 ha and will improve its value for great crested newt (Triturus cristatus) foraging and offer wider biodiversity benefits for other protected species. Harry said the project is an impressive example of how RSK can draw on its broad range of multidisciplinary skills to achieve a major infrastructure planning application. The combined RSK team compiled and submitted more than 100 documents as part of its contribution to the planning submission. The 13 businesses involved in the DNS application were: He said that throughout the programme, RSK Environment worked closely with the project front end engineering design (FEED) team, advising on design requirements for planning. Harry said that RSK Environment collaborated with other RSK Group businesses to prepare and submit the EIA scoping report in late 2022. A scoping direction from Planning and Environment Decisions Wales (PEDW) was received in April 2023. He said: “Our collaboration continued as the EIA evolved and work on the environmental statement began in 2023 through to 2024. Nine environmental factor assessments were undertaken, including landscape and visual, biodiversity, climate and noise and vibration, to understand the impact of the project on the environment and propose mitigation and enhancements to offset the impacts. Findings were reported in the environmental statement. “Alongside this, Copper Consultancy coordinated a programme of community engagement and consultation and organised two pre-consultation events in 2022, a further three online and six non-statutory and statutory pre-application consultation events at local venues in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The planning application was submitted on 27 September 2024.” Heidelberg Materials UK Chief Executive Officer Simon Willis said: “This is fantastic news and a brings our plans to create the UK’s first net zero cement works a step closer. “Cement is essential to the UK’s transition to net zero. It is fundamental to the development of everything from new offshore wind farms to nuclear power stations, to low carbon infrastructure, and the thousands of green jobs these projects will create. “Our Padeswood CCS project will bring significant inward investment and opportunity to the region, boosting the North Wales economy and securing the future of hundreds of skilled jobs. “Once operational, it will also provide net zero building materials for major projects across the country and will act as an exemplar for sustainable cement production in the UK and across the globe.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
A major new multi-generational housing scheme is set to take shape in Congleton after the McGoff Group secured unanimous planning approval for its proposed development on Morley Drive, the former site of John Morley Limited. Approved at a recent planning committee meeting, the joint application from the McGoff Group and McCarthy & Stone will see the four-acre brownfield site transformed into a mixed-use community. The scheme includes a 70-bed care home, 53 retirement apartments, and 14 three-bedroom townhouses. “We are thrilled this scheme was passed unanimously earlier this week,” said Chris McGoff, Director at the McGoff Group. “We have worked closely with the Council, Canals & Rivers Trust and Network Rail to ensure the proposed plans perfectly suit the site, which is close to both the railway line and Macclesfield Canal. “More importantly, we will deliver much needed care beds and a retirement setting, with a shortfall of both recently identified in Congleton, as well as high quality, new build homes. Jobs in the locality will also be created, with the care home alone providing circa 100 jobs.” The development, designed by C-Squared Architects, will feature mill-inspired architecture in keeping with the local conservation area. Sustainability is central to the plans, with green roofs, solar PV panels, and a sustainable drainage system integrated into the design. The scheme also includes the creation of a tree-lined pedestrian and cycle route along the canal, linking the new development to Congleton train station. This addition aims to enhance local connectivity and promote active travel within the community. Construction is expected to begin later this year, with McGoff Construction Services—part of the McGoff Group—set to lead the build. The care home will be operated by the Group’s luxury care brand, Dunham Care, marking its third facility in development, with eight more in the pipeline. Meanwhile, McCarthy & Stone will be responsible for delivering the retirement complex, which will comprise 31 one-bedroom and 22 two-bedroom apartments, catering to the growing demand for high-quality retirement living in the area. Work is expected to start by late summer. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Planning activity must increase substantially if the government is to meet its target of 1.5 million new homes by 2029. That is the key finding from the latest Planning Application Index, TerraQuest’s quarterly analysis of Planning Portal data. Based on applications for new homes rather than planning approvals or completed builds, the figures analysed in TerraQuest’s quarterly Planning Application Index give the earliest indication of housebuilders’ confidence in the economy generally and the housing market in particular. Planning Portal statistics show that an average of 300,232 new homes were applied for annually over the past five years – theoretically sufficient to deliver the government’s target. However, in the final three months of 2024, the total number of plans submitted came to just 233,811. Given that it’s unrealistic to expect a 1:1 ratio between applications and their approval and subsequent build out, this figure falls well short of what will be required every year up to the end of the current parliament in 2029. TerraQuest’s new report examines historical planning application figures across England over the past five years, comparing those with verified housebuilding completions data. The picture is one of mixed fortunes for the new government, particularly when looking at the most recent figures from Q4, 2024. The Q4 2024 edition delves into both national and regional findings, with the latter also revealing some points of concern. In the North East, for instance, planning activity was significantly lower than the rest of the country, accounting for just over 3% of all applications submitted over the past five years. Conversely, the South East accounted for almost a quarter over the same period. 95% of applications in England are submitted through TerraQuest’s Planning Portal. Planning Portal share this data to support the industry and wider economy, providing these early market indicators to help drive growth and encourage best practice. As the source of this data, Planning Portal can offer a more immediate picture of activity ‘on the ground’ making this Planning Application Index series act as an important gauge for measuring the market’s response to government policy. Geoff Keal, CEO at TerraQuest, the operator of Planning Portal, said: “TerraQuest’s latest report comes at a critical juncture for the government. Changes to the National Planning Policy Framework and the introduction of the new Planning and Infrastructure Bill make it more important than ever to track market confidence and response to legislation. This is the intention behind the Planning Application Index – it gives a more up-to-date view of planning activity across England and, by extension, a critical view into the minds of those responsible for the delivery of homes. “It will be fascinating to track the efficacy of new government policy, especially across the next three quarters of 2025, when the market has fully calibrated to these changes and we have a more complete picture with data to corroborate. “While the government has a huge challenge in front of it, there is cause for optimism, with a lower base interest rate and nascent signs of economic growth. This along with a concerted effort to get building underway will surely deliver what’s been needed for some time: housing and much more of it.” To download TerraQuest’s Planning Application Index, please visit: https://www.terraquest.co.uk/news-and-insights/the-planning-application-index-q4 Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Newham Council has unanimously approved Pollard Thomas Edwards’ striking 29-storey riverside development for The Pickstock Group on Stratford High Street. The mixed-use Build to Rent scheme delivers 355 homes – 25% affordable – alongside a Spacehub-designed public garden, linking Bow Back River to the High Street. It also features a new café and performance venue, enriching local creative industries and hosting national jazz concerts and exhibitions. Revitalising a brownfield site left vacant for eight years, the project introduces two buildings at 13 and 29 storeys. The form is inspired by the river’s shifting contours in this location, expressed through alternating bands of material texture and reflectivity. These contours extend from the buildings to connect generous entrance lobbies for both tenures and create a sheltered social space on the garden’s urban edge. Communal residential amenities crown each building, offering lounges, dining and screening rooms, workspaces, and indoor and outdoor play hubs. From here residents can enjoy sweeping views across Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and Three Mills Island. ‘We are delighted to have received planning permission for this development and the positive benefits it will bring to the local community. Alongside much needed homes, the garden-side cafe adds an exciting performance venue to the emerging cultural quarter’ says PTE Partner Carl Vann. ‘The architecture responds to the place narrative – it emerges from a contoured landscape, it includes verdant escarpments at set-back levels and is then carefully sculptured at upper levels to reference the contours of the surrounding city skyline’. ‘This is a significant development for Stratford High Street, and we are thrilled to have achieved resolution on this site’ commented Bradley Carter Development Director at The Pickstock Group. ‘I would like to thank London Borough of Newham Council and the community in seeing our vision for an added value asset to the borough’ added Bradley. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Glenigan’s March 2025 Construction Review reveals project pipeline pressure, with hopes pinned on the newly enacted Planning and Infrastructure Bill to spark a turnaround Today, Glenigan, Powered by Hubexo (Glenigan), one of the construction industry’s leading insight and intelligence experts, releases the March 2025 edition of its Construction Review. The Review focuses on the three months to the end of February 2025, covering all major (>£100m) and underlying (<£100m) projects, with all underlying figures seasonally adjusted. It’s a report which provides a detailed and comprehensive analysis of year-on-year construction data, giving built environment professionals a unique insight into sector performance over the last 12 months. Major projects dry up, stifling pipeline growth The construction sector is facing a 32% year-on-year drop in project-start values, driven by a decline in major projects and weak activity in underlying ones. Despite a 35% increase in major contract awards, the overall downturn continues due to a drop in smaller awards and planning approvals, signalling a continued decline in both major and smaller starts in the near term. The freeze on major project starts, with only a few £100M+ developments getting underway, has led to a 39% decline in project starts. This slowdown is due to delays in planning approvals, higher borrowing costs, and weaker business confidence, prompting developers to delay investment until the economic outlook improves. The impact of these challenges is also evident in smaller projects, with a 17% year-on-year decrease in underlying project-starts. Meanwhile, main contract awards have fallen by 14% annually, indicating that even approved projects are struggling to move forward to construction. The UK economy saw minimal growth of 0.1% in Q4 2024, impacted by weak industrial production and a stagnant service sector. Early 2025 reflects the same trends, with ongoing manufacturing decline and sluggish services. Industrial Sector: Short-term gains, long-term uncertainty Industrial construction stands out as a rare bright spot, with project starts rising 16% year-on-year and warehousing/logistics soaring 70% to £872M, now accounting for 48% of all starts. However, this growth may not be sustainable, as detailed planning approvals for industrial projects have fallen 20% compared to last year. Without a consistent pipeline of approved projects, the sector’s momentum could swiftly fade in 2025. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill: A potential turning point? The recently introduced Planning and Infrastructure Bill aims to address the industry’s challenges by streamlining planning approvals and fast-tracking key infrastructure projects. With detailed planning approvals down 21% annually, the bill seeks to boost housing delivery and accelerate decision-making at the local council level. “The sharp drop in project starts reflects the ongoing struggles within the industry,” says Allan Wilen, Economics Director at Glenigan. “While the surge in major contract awards suggests future activity, real sustained growth hinges on improved approvals. The proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill has the potential to be transformative, yet its impact will be determined by how swiftly and effectively it is implemented. A key challenge lies in uncertainty over local authorities’ capacity to deliver reforms at the pace needed to unlock stalled projects.” To find out more about Glenigan and its construction intelligence services click here. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
The Government’s plan to make it easier to build on green belt is likely to have limited impact on North East housebuilding in the short term. Under changes introduced by Labour shortly after the election, lower quality green belt land will be designated so called ‘grey belt’ and released for construction as the Government seeks to build 1.5 million homes by 2029 to help tackle the chronic housing shortage. A creation of the current Labour Government, grey belt is defined as land which makes a ‘limited contribution’ to green belt objectives. This may include land that contains substantial built development or is enclosed by built form, does little to prevent the coalescence of settlements, is dominated by urban land uses, or does not protect a historic setting. The aim is to deliver more opportunities for development in rural areas and should open the door for residential, commercial and tourism development within the green belt that would otherwise have been prevented. However, the grey belt plan in its current format will have limited impact on housebuilding in the North East in the short term. This is due in part to the fact that most regional councils have a 5-year housing land supply or are already meeting their housing delivery test, which is one of the requirements for grey belt. There are one or two exceptions such as South Tyneside and Gateshead but on the whole the picture is fairly similar region-wide. While it was initially felt that the grey belt policy could make a positive contribution to meeting sustainable housing long term, now that detailed guidance has been published it is not quite as golden as hoped. Planning experts now consider that the subsequent changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and other parts of planning policy mean any impact is at best likely to be marginal in the short term. You can argue that the policy is not fit for purpose, with the changes to the NPPF making the concept of grey belt land largely redundant with land more likely be released from the green belt through existing channels instead. Those changes include a new requirement for councils to review green belt boundaries and propose changes if they cannot meet demand for housing or commercial land through other means. Tracking the effectiveness of grey belt policy amid uncertainty about the number of homes that could be built on such land is also difficult – media reports estimate ranges from 50,000 to four million, which suggests that the potential impact of the policy had not been adequately assessed before it was announced. In addition, housing within the grey belt will have to deliver a greater proportion of affordable housing than sites outside the green belt. Originally, one of the ‘golden rules’ linked to grey belt development was that 50% of the housing must be affordable. While this provision has been watered down to be 15% above the local authority’s policy position, and capped at 50% and subject to viability, the combination of more affordable housing and better household incomes will undoubtedly see positive outcomes as we push for growth. However, it’s not all doom and gloom. A properly thought through and executed grey belt policy could deliver more opportunities in rural North East areas, opening the door for residential, commercial and tourism development within the green belt that would otherwise have been prevented. Growth can be unlocked; new opportunities created. With the roll out of new superfast digital services in rural communities, increased flexible working practices with more people working online, and planning approvals in all the right places, the commercial opportunities for development within the grey belt could be highly significant with new jobs strengthening the rural economy and boosting household incomes. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
