The government has announced the 20 towns and cities poised to benefit from the construction of 11,500 new homes. This initiative aims to provide a substantial boost to housing availability, targeting previously developed brownfield sites to accommodate this significant increase. The strategy not only seeks to make home ownership more attainable for younger buyers but also to sustain green spaces by avoiding development on undeveloped land.

The towns and cities selected for this transformative housing project include Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Coventry, Derby, Kingston upon Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Plymouth, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, and Wolverhampton. These areas will see an easing of planning permissions under a new ‘brownfield presumption’ policy, specifically designed to encourage development where housing production has lagged.

This initiative is part of a broader government effort to address the urgent need for more housing. By focusing on brownfield sites, the plan ensures that new homes can be built within existing urban areas, reducing the need to encroach on the countryside and helping to preserve the character and greenery of surrounding landscapes.

The announcement comes alongside a six-week consultation period, inviting public and stakeholder input on the proposed changes. This period of dialogue underscores the government’s commitment to collaborative planning and the importance of community feedback in shaping the future of housing development.

The ‘urban uplift’ approach, which increases housing need assessments by 35% in these populous areas, aligns with the ‘Housing Delivery Test’. This test measures the effectiveness of local planning authorities in meeting housing demands. Areas scoring below 95% will now benefit from a streamlined process, facilitating the development of sustainable, well-integrated new homes.

As the government rolls out this ambitious plan, the focus remains on creating opportunities for home ownership, enhancing living conditions, and fostering sustainable urban growth. This initiative marks a significant step towards addressing housing challenges in England, promising a brighter future for potential homeowners and communities across the selected towns and cities.