Govt launches consultation on support for London housebuilding

The government has launched a consultation on two of its announced measures to support housebuilding in London.

Part one of the consultation seeks views on the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) proposal to provide temporary relief from the Community and Infrastructure Levy (CIL) on new schemes providing at least 20% affordable housing – a decrease from an expected 35% in the capital.

This part of the consultation will cover the rationale for emergency CIL relief in London, the developments that will qualify, how that relief will be accessed and administered and the next steps the government proposes to take to implement the relief.

Part two invites comment on changes to the mayor of London’s planning powers. MHCLG proposes to make permanent changes to the mayor’s existing planning powers to strengthen oversight of planning applications of potential strategic importance.

This covers a new application of potential strategic importance category, subject to a streamlined process, for development of 50 or more homes “where boroughs are minded to refuse”. MHCLG will also consult on bringing applications for development of more than 1,000 sqm within green belt or metropolitan open land within the scope of the …