Housing Wed, Mar 23, 2016 10:35 AM
The property industry has backed Labour’s plans to consider designating large-scale housing as national infrastructure.
Shadow chancellor Ed Balls today published for consultation a draft remit for a new National Infrastructure Commission (NIC) which sets out 10 National Infrastructure Goals, one of which is to “ensure that the enabling infrastructure is in place to support rapid housing development and that housing investment is integrated with investment in transport and utilities.”
He announced that a Labour government would introduce legislation to set up an independent NIC, as was proposed by the Armitt Review of Infrastructure in 2012, in the first Queen’s Speech after the election.
The British Property Federation (BPF) has consistently lobbied government to include residential into the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Plan (NSIP) regime, repeatedly pointing out that the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) advocates mixed-use development, and that sustainable communities need to include a mix of both commercial and residential units. Including a provision for residential in the NSIP regime could help unlock significant amounts of much-needed housing development.
Melanie Leech, chief executive of the British Property Federation, said: “We are delighted to see that Labour would like to see housing recognised as nationally significant infrastructure.
"If we are to deliver housing at scale at the same time as creating commercial hubs that will drive economic growth, we need to encourage the development of well-connected, mixed-use communities where people can both live and work. Including residential within the NSIP process would be a significant step forward in this respect, and we hope that whoever is in power after the next election takes this forward.”
Featured News
When it comes to metal rainwater systems, Alumasc Water Management Solutions (AWMS)...
>B< Press fittings from Conex Bänninger have been extensively used on a large...
BUILDING PRODUCT LIBRARY - LATEST BROCHURES
Your high performanc...
By James Hardie
James Hardie brings...
By James Hardie
fermacell® The Speci...
By James Hardie
Hardie backer fibre...
By James Hardie
RIVERSTONE® - DISCOV...
By SSQ
BUILDING PRODUCT DIRECTORY - LATEST PRODUCTS
Senses Kitchen Surfaces. Beautifully Crafted, Effortlessly Maintained. The Senses range of...
FASSA's new SM 485: Your choice for a fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors,...
FASSA's new SL 416: A fast-setting, self-levelling smooth coat for interior floors. With superb...
CONSTRUCTION VIDEOS - LATEST VIDEOS
Specification Insights with Majestic London Showers
“Building with stone wool insulated sandwich panels” written by Professor Imperadori, is now...
Portakabin | Installation at the iconic Admiralty Arch, London