In the week following the announcement by the Competition and Markets Authority to commence a study into housebuilders, and with the closure of the Government’s consultation on changes to the NPPF, Pocket Living’s plans to increase housing delivery on small sites by SMEs has received a major boost with The UK’s largest housebuilder, Barratt Developments, supporting their proposals.

The proposals, promoted by Pocket Living as part of the Government’s review of the delivery process for small sites in the latest National Planning Policy Framework consultation, could result in up to 1.6m new homes being delivered on small sites according to new research by LDS Guarantee. The review follows a commitment by Government, during the Commons report stage of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill to “consult on changing national policy to encourage greater use of small sites, especially those measures that will increase affordable housing”.

The support by Barratt adds significant weight to the consultation responses and is a major endorsement of the role that the SME sector has to play in delivering new affordable homes, on small brownfield sites.

The updates follow an intensive campaign by Andrew Lewer MP, supported by an alliance of over 40 developers and other industry bodies – led by Pocket Living, who pioneered the model of discount-to-market housing for sale – who called for immediate action from the Government in light of the growing difficulties facing the SME sector. SMEs in the housebuilding industry has collapsed: in 1988, SME housebuilders built 39% of new homes; now they build just 10%.

The promotion of a Small Sites Planning Policy would not only streamline the planning process for SME developers (the average determination time for small sites is now 60 weeks alone, 4.5 x the statutory 13-week period), but deliver much needed affordable housing across the country at no extra cost to the Treasury. Under Pocket’s proposed revision, developers would contribute at least 50% affordable housing. The London Plans’ adoption of a similar planning fast-track route for schemes with high levels of affordable housing led to the proportion of affordable homes being delivered almost double.

In light of the recent estimates by the Home Builders Federation that housebuilding could drop to the lowest level in 80 years following the decision to scrap housing targets, the initiative could represent a timely opportunity for the Government to turbo charge housing delivery.

Marc Vlessing, Chief Executive Officer at Pocket Living, comments: The industry has spoken and it is now time for the government to take action. Small sites should form the foundations of any flourishing housing sector and through simple changes to policy, the government can not only support greater housing delivery, but also deliver on its levelling up agenda, at no extra cost to the treasury. 

David Thomas, Chief Executive Officer of Barratt Developments comments: “Building on more small sites is a simple and effective way to increase housing numbers. The country needs more new homes to be built so we are happy to back Pocket Living’s campaign and response to the NPPF Consultation to encourage more small sites for housing.”