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Automatic planning permission for brown field sites

Leeds City Council has revealed there are currently planning approvals in place to build more than 17,000 homes, but more could be on the cards, built at a faster rate, if the Government's shake up of national planning guidelines gets the go ahead.

Houses being built Credit: ITV

The 'Fixing the Foundations’ package of national proposals aims to encourage more new homes by allowing developers automatic planning permission to build on suitable disused industrial ‘brownfield’ sites; they'll be enhanced compulsory purchase powers to allow more brownfield land to be made available for development; and the possibility of major housing projects to be fast-tracked.

But concerns have been raised by Leeds City Council, who need to provide permission for 70,000 new homes by 2028. They say they need to be sure a system's in place to prevent badly designed, unplanned environments, which are devoid of affordable accommodation.

It’s not just about saying which sites are suitable for housing, but getting other factors such as highways, design and affordable housing right before development takes place. There is a risk with the government’s proposals for ‘streamlining’ planning that you lose some of the detail that matters most to people.

– Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council