Planning minister Nick Boles has unveiled details of the generous cash incentives available to communities that take a proactive approach by drawing up a neighbourhood development plan, and securing the consent of local people in a referendum.
This cash boost will be paid directly to parish and town councils and can be used to back the community’s priorities for spending.
Communities without a neighbourhood development plan but where the levy is still charged will still receive a capped 15% of the development tax.
Boles said: “We have a simple choice. We can decide to ignore the misery of young families forced to grow up in tiny flats with no outside space.
“We can pass by on the other side while working men and women in their twenties and thirties have to live with their parents or share bedrooms with friends.
“We can shrug our shoulders as home ownership reverts to what it was in the 19th century: a privilege, the exclusive preserve of people with large incomes or wealthy parents.
“Or we can accept that we are going to have to build on previously undeveloped land and resolve that we will make these decisions locally and build beautiful places like we used to.
“Boles added: “This government is determined to persuade communities to accept more house-building by giving them a tangible share of the benefits it brings.”
“By undertaking a neighbourhood plan that makes space for new development, communities can secure revenues to make the community more attractive for everyone.”
The government has also made clear that planning should encourage the effective use of land, including brownfield land that is not of high environmental value.
The majority of all new homes - 76% of those completed in 2010 - were built on brownfield land. But this will not be enough and some undeveloped land will need to be made available for house building.
Mike Leonard, CEO of the Modern Masonry Alliance, said “We applaud the sentiment of Nick Boles’ efforts to address the NIMBY effect and Get Britain Building. The failure, however, to embrace any form of targets for increased house building in 2013 remains a great concern.
“We cannot go on hoping it will get better. Our factories need demand, our economy needs growth and our people need jobs. If you don’t have a goal you cannot measure success!”
