UK Deregulation Drive

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: “This review will give house builders and smaller construction businesses a powerful voice as part of our £10 billion deregulation drive. Some rules are too complicated, ineffective, or poorly enforced. I want to hear about it and the government will take action. Together we can cut red tape and get Britain building.”

The Housing and Construction Red Tape Challenge previously delivered significant reforms. That led to a review of local housing standards by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

They are even more determined to remove the barriers faced by house builders. They are the ones who can help reach the recently announced new targets for home building adding:

“We want to hear the views of firms big and small. Then we can remove unnecessary red tape and help house builders do what they do best, building the homes we need.”

The Review Starting Points

Key starting points for the review get based on the priorities raised by the Task Force. It include roads and infrastructure rules for new housing developments and environmental requirements. They relate most to European Union rules such as the Habitats Directive and wider EU environmental permit requirements.

The pending review will also look at rules affecting the broadband infrastructure and utilities such as gas, electricity, and water.

The government is also keen to scrutinize the changes made to the Construction, Design and Management Regulations. They will include any examples that are being implemented too strictly as part of EU regulations.

The national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses commented that the government is right to listen to the needs of smaller businesses. He pointed out that they delivered around two thirds of our new homes in the 1980s. The present day contributions by smaller firms is less than a third.

It would be a major step towards meeting this country’s housing needs. The government should encourage small firms back into house building.

New Cutting Red Tape Review

The newly announced Cutting Red Tape review will specifically evaluate the way that the law gets enforced. It will show whether the rules themselves are proportionate and fit for each purpose.

The government intends to take concrete steps to remove burdens on business. All this follows positive responses from house builders in the United Kingdom.

The Home Builders Federation added: “The industry looks to drive further increases in housing supply. We welcome moves to reduce unnecessary regulation and the associated costs.

Aside from the planning system there are significant other regulatory processes and charges levied on the industry. They can adversely affect viability and delay the ability of home builders to get on site and start building. Reducing red tape will bring more sites into play and quicker. It will help the industry deliver more desperately needed homes in the coming years.”

Economic Affairs Committee

At the same time, the Economic Affairs Committee of the House of Lords is conducting an inquiry. They will look into The Economics of the United Kingdom Housing Market.

The analysis is likely to consider the effectiveness, supply, and affordability of housing available for private buyers. The private rental sector and the social housing market across the country should benefit from the inquiry lead by the Committee. They ask interested individuals and organisations to submit any relevant evidence to the inquiry for further reviews.