Housing secretary Robert Jenrick has unveiled plans to allow the public to convert vacant council land or derelict property.
The Right to Regenerate proposals would give individuals and communities the first right of refusal to purchase unused land and assets from councils at market value.
Public bodies would need to have clear plans for land under their ownership, for example vacant social housing or garages. If councils waited too long without land being used, they would be required to sell it.
The proposals also require councils to submit quarterly reports on primary enquiries and to publicise all requests to release land.
The plans build on former legislation under the Right to Contest, giving the public the power to request the sale of land, later extended through the Community Right to Reclaim Land.
However, under this power, just 192 requests have been made and only one granted. Requests had been refused by owners claiming future plans with sites left unsused for years.
Jenrick said: “Right to Regenerate is the simple way to turn public land into public good, with land sold by default, unless there is a very compelling reason not to do so.
“We are cutting through red tape so that communities can make better use of available land and derelict buildings, which means more new homes, businesses and community assets.”
Tom Chance, chief executive of the National Community Land Trust Network, said the plans could be a “gamechanger”. Chance said: “There are hundreds of community land trusts across the country wanting to build much needed affordable housing, but getting hold of land at an affordable price is a huge barrier.”
Consultation over the proposals closes on 13 March.
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