Keir Starmer's government 'will give councils more powers to seize land and pay owners less' in 'bulldozer blitz' bid to build 1.5m new homes
Share:
Keir Starmer's government is set to give local authorities more powers to seize land and pay the owners less in a so-called 'bulldozer blitz' to build 1.5million new homes. The Times reports that local authorities will be given the power to take control of brownfield land without handing over 'excessive' amounts of money in a bid to grow Britain's housing stock.
![[The Times reports that local authorities will be given the power to take control of brownfield land without paying 'excessive' amounts of money]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/20/01/93339667-14212299-image-a-42_1734657679519.jpg)
Currently, government bodies have to pay 'hope values' when they issue compulsory purchase orders, which reflect beliefs on what the land would be worth with the requisite planning permission. These are said to sometimes significantly drive up prices, leading to major delays as owners haggle over values.
Reforms introduced earlier this year allowed councils to apply for permission to use compulsory purchase orders without hope values. But these new reforms would allow for councils to do this without needing to consult the government, and would likely include urban sites with potential for housing and land allocated for homes by local plans but yet to be developed.
Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, told the newspaper the reforms 'will make the process faster and more efficient, enabling more land value to be captured and then invested in schemes for public benefit'. A government spokesperson said that in a consultation on the changes there was 'an appetite amongst some town and community councils for a more proactive approach' to compulsory purchase.
