Housing And Planning Act 2017 Summary

The Housing and Planning Act 2017 (HPA 2017) was passed by the UK Parliament on 18 May 2017. This Act aims to address the housing crisis by increasing the supply of affordable housing, as well as making changes to the planning system. Here is a summary of the key provisions of the Housing and Planning Act 2017:

1. Increasing the supply of affordable housing

The Act includes a number of measures aimed at increasing the supply of affordable housing, including:

A requirement for local authorities to identify and designate areas of land as “Starter Homes” areas. Starter Homes are new homes that are sold to first-time buyers at a 20% discount.
The introduction of a new “Help to Buy ISA” scheme, which will allow first-time buyers to save up to £12,000 towards the cost of a deposit.
An increase in the number of shared ownership homes that are available.
New powers for local authorities to acquire land for affordable housing development.
A new national register of brownfield land that is suitable for development.

2. Making changes to the planning system

The Act also makes a number of changes to the planning system, including:

A new requirement for local authorities to prepare “Local Plans” that set out their housing and planning policies for the next 15 years.
The introduction of a new “Neighbourhood Planning” system, which will give local communities a greater say in the planning of their areas.
New powers for the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to intervene in planning decisions.
A new requirement for developers to pay a “Community Infrastructure Levy” towards the cost of infrastructure that is needed to support new development.
A new “permission in principle” system, which will make it easier for developers to get planning permission for new housing developments.

3. Other provisions

The Act also includes a number of other provisions, including:

New powers for local authorities to tackle rogue landlords.
New measures to protect tenants from eviction.
New powers for the government to regulate the private rented sector.
New measures to tackle homelessness.

The Housing and Planning Act 2017 is a complex and wide-ranging piece of legislation. The provisions of the Act are intended to address the housing crisis by increasing the supply of affordable housing and making changes to the planning system. The full impact of the Act is not yet known, but it is likely to have a significant impact on the housing market and the planning system.