Building slums of the future

[SirGalahad]

https://www.ft.com/content/48fbe55c-ffb2-11e8-ac00-57a2a826423e

Again another ill thought out policy.

But critics say the provision, which ministers want to expand, has undermined key aspects of a system built up over more than 100 years to prevent dwellings that are unsafe or unfit for habitation. Ministers expanded so-called “permitted development rights” (PDRs) five years ago to enable office buildings to be converted to housing with no need for planning permission, in an attempt to push forward construction of new homes.

Expanding permitted development was “probably the worst housing policy mistake in the postwar era”, he argued. “Left to their own devices, real estate investors will see opportunities to deliver cheap, profitable developments to low standards.

 

[Notch7]

The planning system needs overhauling......not like this though.

The planning system is a real bottleneck in house building. New builds are dominated by the large housebuilders, partly because they have the resourses to get planning through on developments.

And its hugely costly. I went to visit a job where the client was having a new house built. Planners insisted on a full bat survey. Cost? -a mere £10,000

 

[ban-all-sheds]

The planning system needs overhauling

Absolutely.

You only have to visit parts of the world without planning rules to see how wonderful their built environment is.

The planning system is a real bottleneck in house building. New builds are dominated by the large housebuilders, partly because they have the resourses to get planning through on developments.

No - the bottleneck is those large housebuilders not building more because that would tend to lower prices - building more is not in the interests of their profits.

And its hugely costly. I went to visit a job where the client was having a new house built. Planners insisted on a full bat survey. Cost? -a mere £10,000

Dreadful.

What is the world coming to when people are not allowed to rape and pillage the environment as they please?

 

[SirGalahad]

The planning system needs overhauling......not like this though.

The planning system is a real bottleneck in house building. New builds are dominated by the large housebuilders, partly because they have the resourses to get planning through on developments.

And its hugely costly. I went to visit a job where the client was having a new house built. Planners insisted on a full bat survey. Cost? -a mere £10,000

So are you a house builder?

A property I was interested in , fire damage to a listed building - but land in a prime spot - I did some searches only to find that as it was listed my plan to topple it down wouldn't have been accepted. Later on I discovered a nearby property had to pay for a Bat survey and provide some changes to the roof to allow bats to nest.

 

[Notch7]

You only have to visit parts of the world without planning rules to see how wonderful their built environment is

Whataboutery.
A lack of planning rules in other countries is not a reason to avoid criticism of the UK system

No - the bottleneck is those large housebuilders not building more because that would tend to lower prices - building more is not in the interests of their profits.

Land banking by major housebuilders is often blamed as a bottleneck in housebuilding and the cause of high house prices. It isnt the root cause, its a factor, but part of a wider issue. In reality housebuilders need a pipeline of work, probably extending 5 or 6 years ahead so to an extent the land banking claim is a bit of a red herring.

What is the world coming to when people are not allowed to rape and pillage the environment as they please?

Was I advocating ditching regulations?

 

[Notch7]

So are you a house builder?

A property I was interested in , fire damage to a listed building - but land in a prime spot - I did some searches only to find that as it was listed my plan to topple it down wouldn't have been accepted. Later on I discovered a nearby property had to pay for a Bat survey and provide some changes to the roof to allow bats to nest.

Im not a housebuilder, but I deal with quite a few builders. That particular job in Surrey, I was meeting the builder to measure for making oak windows.

Listed buildings are more hastle than they are worth. Sadly due to the approach taken by local authorities. There is far too much subjective opinion allowed where conservation officers are concerned. They have no interest in pragmatic or sensible solutions. They will quite happily insist on some hugely expensive or restrictive conditions on properties that end up staying empty and unrestored.

 

[SirGalahad]

Im not a housebuilder, but I deal with quite a few builders. That particular job in Surrey, I was meeting the builder to measure for making oak windows.

Listed buildings are more hastle than they are worth. Sadly due to the approach taken by local authorities. There is far too much subjective opinion allowed where conservation officers are concerned. They have no interest in pragmatic or sensible solutions. They will quite happily insist on some hugely expensive or restrictive conditions on properties that end up staying empty and unrestored.

The plot is about 1/2 an acre and homes go for near a cool million but having a burned out house in such a lovely area is quite a sight.

I always thought if the listed building is damaged then it shouldn't be a problem to tear it down. Just on that - if a property is torn down and prior it was on water rates would the new property then be on water meter?

Can you get your water meter changed to water rate?

 

[big-all]

need to subscribe to veiw that link
is there another choice please ??

 

[Notch7]

I always thought if the listed building is damaged then it shouldn't be a problem to tear it down

No, that would need listed consent. My guess would be that in order to demolish you would have to prove that the property doesnt have any historical value, or at least none salvageable. Cost wont be a determining factor. So if it costs say £5million to restore, that wouldnt enter the equation. Listed decisions dont include any element of pragmatism.