Responding to today’s report by the Communities and Local Government Committee on the Government’s proposals for a Planning-gain Supplement, Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation (HBF) says:
“The HBF agrees with the Committee’s opening conclusion that, to achieve a step-change in housing supply, adequate infrastructure needs to be provided. However, after detailed analysis and consultation on the Government’s proposed Planning-gain supplement, the industry has significant concerns that the complexity of the levy may not help bring more land forward for development, nor speed up the planning process.”
“The HBF therefore fully supports the Committee’s belief that simplicity and clarity are essential, and agrees that much more work needs to be done – such as further statistical modelling and cost-benefit analysis - before the Government can implement the levy. The HBF is keen to work with the Government to help find a workable route forward.”
In September, the HBF published a joint report undertaken by Knight Frank LLP which demonstrated that the PGS, as envisaged by the Government, may not deliver the levels of funding sought for new local infrastructure and could render some smaller developments unviable.
Notes for Editors
The Home Builders Federation (HBF) is the principal trade federation for private sector home builders and voice of the home building industry in England and Wales. The HBF’s 300 member firms account for over 80% of all new homes built in England and Wales in any one year, and include companies of all sizes, ranging from multi-national, household names through regionally based businesses to small local companies: www.hbf.co.uk
Independent research highlights complexity of land levy debate, 19 September 2006:
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