Centre for Cities - housebuilding at train stations and other NPPF revisions

In response to Government's announcement on housebuilding around transport stops this morning:

Andrew Carter, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities, said:

“The Government's continued focus on making the planning system more rules-based and targeting reforms that unlock the economic potential of Britain's cities is very welcome.”

“This streamlined approach to developing new homes around well-connected transport stops is one of the best ways to align the planning system with economic growth.

“Prioritising more homes in and around big cities especially will connect more people to places with the highest number of jobs and opportunities.

“Centre for Cities estimates that up to 5 million homes could be built on these types of locations within a reasonable commute of the centres of Britain's 15 largest cities.”

Notes:

• 5m homes could be built on locations with good commuter access to 15 major cities by public transport, according to Centre for Cities estimates in Restarting housebuilding III: New towns and land value capture (2024).
• Two-thirds of these require building on green belt land, but developing all these sites would shrink green belt land by under 5 per cent nationally (and <7 per cent around London).