We recently heard the Prime Minister’s pledge to “build, build, build” to help repair the economic damage caused by the Coronavirus pandemic, with a £5bn programme for hospitals, schools and roads.
The government also unveiled its new measures designed to accelerate building in the UK which has been labelled ‘the most radical reforms to our planning system since the Second World War’, making it easier to build better homes where people want to live.
During his speech, the Prime Minister admitted the UK had failed to build enough homes. To address this, the government has announced a £multi-billion “New Deal” affordable homes programme, which will provide up to 180,000 homes over eight years.
Mr Johnson also pledged to build new homes on brownfield sites and other areas with better transport, "We will build build build. Build back better, build back greener, build back faster and to do that at the pace that this moment requires.
He said: “It sounds positively Rooseveltian. It sounds like a New Deal. All I can say is that if so, then that is how it is meant to sound and to be, because that is what the times demand.
“If we deliver this plan together, then we will together build our way back to health.
“We will not just bounce back, we will bounce forward – stronger and better and more united than ever before.”
He also plans to make it easier for the private sector to develop its own projects. A wider range of commercial buildings, including failed shopping centres, will be allowed to change to residential use without the need for a planning application.
Ricky Robson, McGinley CEP Director, said: “We welcome the Prime Minister’s plans and it’s fantastic to see he’s committed to restarting and rejuvenating the delivery of infrastructure projects. This plan will aid in the economic recovery on a national and local level, as it’s certain to generate vast employment opportunities across the country and help provide our younger generations with employable skills. We’re aware of the impact Covid-19 has had to huge numbers of people who have lost their jobs. Hopefully, this incentive will help get these people back into work in the near future. It’s still going to be a very tricky few months but this news will hopefully give our clients the confidence to keep their current staff and look at recruiting more people.”