The Best Bits from Michael Gove’s Long-Term Housing Update Plan

In February 2024, Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, issued a statement regarding the upcoming planned changes to housing in the United Kingdom. It touched on several key points, including the building of new, affordable, homes in London as well as SME housebuilding, the releasing of land for property development, second staircases, and planning permission for extensions.

Here’s a breakdown of the key points from Mr Gove’s February update regarding housing in the UK.

Build on Brownfield Land

The first point in Gove’s statement related to building new properties on brownfield land. In London throughout 2023, only 35,000 affordable homes were constructed despite the need for at least 66,000. As a result, Mr Gove has stated that there should be an increase in brownfield development – and not just in the capital.

Other major towns and cities around the UK should consider brownfield property development to further increase jobs and opportunities in these areas. A consultation has been launched on proposals for brownfield presumption in the 20 most populous cities in England where housing has dropped below the expected levels.

Permitted Development Rights

For property developers who work with commercial buildings, the new legislation is good news. Mr Gove has stated that the existing permitted development right for conversion to residential from commercial properties has been amended. It means that developers now have the freedom to renovate commercial properties of any size into new homes. This should – hopefully – result in thousands of new homes by 2030.

There is also a determination to make the planning permission process much easier for homeowners wanting to build an extension on their property.

Good News for SME Housebuilders

The UK government want more homes to be built so is making it easier for SME housebuilders (small and medium-sized) to construct properties. The £1 billion ENABLE Build guarantee scheme is being enhanced to increase the amount of funding for SMEs. Gove stated that he wants to introduce SME-only sales of Homes England land, too, with pilots starting later in 2024 in the Midlands and the south-east.

Increase of Public Sector Land

According to Mr Gove, the UK government are determined to ensure more land is released for the purpose of developing residential properties. Discussions have already taken place with the Department for Transport, the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Health and Social Care, and Homes England. As a result, government-owned land has been released which should allow for 15,000 homes to be developed by April 2025.

Short-Term Lets

Short-term lets, like properties linked to Airbnb, have grown in the past few years and mostly in coastal and tourist regions. This is causing concern for local residents and the government due to worries over compliance with health and safety regulations.

According to Gove, the UK government want to ensure that both local residents and short-term let owners can thrive in the same location. To do this, they are introducing a register for short-term let properties and owners to register themselves on a national database.

There is also an aim to create planning measures to provide local areas with more control over future growth. Additionally, Gove claims that the UK government would like to provide “flexibility and certainty” to homeowners so that they can let out their main home for short periods without planning permission.

Second Staircase Guidance

The final point to touch on from Gove’s statement is that of second staircase guidance. In October 2023, guidance was released stating that second staircases in homes in England must be above 18 metres. The new information is that the Building Safety Regulator will publish new guidance on the second staircase rules before April 2024.

Contact Architects Certificate

If you’re a property developer and you need some advice on the new changes to housing regulations in the UK, don’t hesitate to contact us at Architects Certificate. We’re a team of experts who know the regulations around properties very well.

Plus, if you ever need a structural warranty for a project you’re working on, we’re the place to go. We can provide a barn conversion warranty, a commercial property warranty, and much more. Give us a call on 0161 928 8804 and we’ll be happy to discuss your project.