The Conservative Party manifesto, released this morning, promises to set up ‘Regeneration Companies’ with statutory planning powers as part of a package of urban renewal measures. The manifesto also undertakes to deliver £200m in tax breaks for regeneration schemes.
The companies, which are to work alongside local authorities and businesses, “will have statutory powers to accelerate the planning and development of rundown areas,” according to the 47-page manifesto.
The party also pledges to streamline planning procedures to make it easier for new homes to be built on brownfield sites, in a bid to “make Britain a nation of homeowners”. Local councils will also be given extra powers to designate land as green belt.
Plans for existing vacant public sector housing stock include the introduction of ‘homesteading grants’ which will allow people to repair and subsequently own empty council housing.
The manifesto echoes the Mayor’s Plan for London, published earlier in the week, on the issue of greenfield development. “The future of the countryside is bound up with the future of our inner cities. As long as people leave the cities to occupy new houses built on green fields there can be no prospect of an urban revival,” the document states.
EGi News 10/05/01
