Government’s 'illegal' new homes building policy
When I saw the BBC’s ‘Eco-towns plan may be unlawful’ headline, I was quite excited for a second. Images of chaotic streets where the mafia rules and riots are a daily activity filled my head.
Of course, this isn’t the case. On careful reading I realise it’s the planning which could be unlawful, not the towns. Shame.
The BBC reports ministers are to publish a planning policy statement which will set out standards and potential locations in England for the eco-towns. But the Local Government Association (LGA) argues the proposals go against the principle of development through plans drawn up by local councils.
Just build it
Indeed the LGA says the government is trying to speed up the process by avoiding the normal systems – something anyone who has ever tried to build a house can only dream of.
If only constructing a UK investment property was as simple as the eco-towns approach – decide you want to do it, tell councils you are doing it (don’t bother asking nicely or applying for it), then scoff at developer proposals to deliver it and get them to come back with better ideas.
For sale: Gothic mansion in Sherwood Forest?
If it were as easy as this for everyone, property investors and developers would be making a pretty penny with ease, but no doubt an unscrupulous one would have slapped a Gothic mansion in the middle of Sherwood Forest and sold it to a family of American oil barons.
The future of homebuilding is a zero carbon-one. It has to be. But if it means the government rips up the fundamental rules of the game, I’d rather choke.
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