The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has responded to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) announcement on Tuesday 13 February 2024 that, as part of its long-term plan for housing, it will support new developments on brownfield land, and extend permitted development rights (PDR).
RIBA President Muyiwa Oki said:
“These announcements show positive intention, but this is a piecemeal approach to housing delivery.
Unlocking brownfield land has a clear role to play and we strongly support this. However, it’s only part of the solution. A qualitative review of the green belt, for example, will help to identify pockets not suitable for green belt protection but suitable for development.
We also urge the Government to think carefully about permitted development rights, so they cannot be abused to result in substandard new homes. If we allow for permitted development rights, they must be accompanied by measures to ensure they do not become ‘loophole policies’ that give no guarantee that people's homes meet the standards required by full planning permission. Otherwise, this risks opening the floodgates to a generation of slum housing.
These interventions may boost localised, mostly urban housebuilding, but they do not provide us with a convincing long-term plan to deliver the volume of high-quality homes people urgently need. We will respond to both consultations announced today and continue to call for a comprehensive approach to housing delivery.”
Notes to editors:
- Media contact: Ruby.OShea@riba.org
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a global professional membership body that serves its members and society in order to deliver better buildings and places, stronger communities and a sustainable environment. Follow @RIBA on Twitter for regular updates.
- Read RIBA responses to government consultations on housing and planning. These include our September 2023 response to the consultation on permitted development rights and additional flexibilities to support housing delivery. Our response recommends ending the use of PDR for converting commercial buildings into residential units until they meet full planning permission standards.
