New plans to help get Britain’s builders and brickies back to work to be unveiled by Housing Minister Robert Jenrick
HOUSING Minister Robert Jenrick will unveil planning reforms to help get Britain’s builders and brickies back to work. “Rob the Builder” has vowed to rip up red tape to help kickstart the economy and stop family firms being squeezed out of the market. He wants small and medium-sized businesses to build a “substantial” chunk of […]
HOUSING Minister Robert Jenrick will unveil planning reforms to help get Britain’s builders and brickies back to work.
“Rob the Builder” has vowed to rip up red tape to help kickstart the economy and stop family firms being squeezed out of the market.
He wants small and medium-sized businesses to build a “substantial” chunk of the 300,000 properties due for construction each year.
They put up 40 per cent of homes in the UK in 1990, but only 12 per cent last year.
Mr Jenrick is to publish his “Planning for the Future” White Paper, which aims to cut the seven years it takes to agree local housing plans and reduce the five-year delays some projects see before a spade is in the ground.
He said: “We’ll cut red tape, but not standards — placing a higher regard on quality, design and the environment than ever before.
“Planning decisions will be simple and transparent, with local democracy at the heart of the process. Today’s reforms are going to give our brickies, builders and labourers the boost they need to get back to the business of building homes.
Most read in Politics
“Thousands of self-employed workers will be able to don their hard hats and help the country recover from the impact of coronavirus.”
Derby-based Hodgkinson Builders welcomed moves to speed up planning.
A spokesman said: “Many building workers are paid weekly, so it’s a quickfire way to put cash back into the economy.”
GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk