Analysis of Local Authority housing site trajectories highlight the importance local councils are placing on strategic sites to meet their five-year housing targets. Of those Local Authorities that publish a detailed housing site trajectory (around 10% of the total), 45% of their five-year delivery pipeline is accounted for by strategic sites. In London and the South East, the proportion of these sites is even higher, at 48%.
This emphasises the importance in making strategic sites viable to meet long-term housing need. This is particularly the case in London and the South East, where this analysis suggests the contribution of strategic sites to the short-to-medium-term supply might be greatest, being regions where the housing need is most acute.
The recently published housing strategy for England sets out some initiatives for tackling stalled sites. Proposals include allowing developers to require local authorities to reconsider Section 106 agreements agreed prior to April 2010, a flexible approach to planning obligations, and a £400 million building fund to unlock
stalled schemes.
In Local Enterprise areas where the provision of infrastructure is a barrier to development, a £500 million 'Growing Places' fund will be made available. Such initiatives could go some way toward unlocking more of this strategic land for delivery.
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