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Research reveals lack of knowledge of planning issues in the UK
Uncertainty over planning grey areas is fuelling the housing crisis in the UK with 60% unable to correctly define the Green Belt and a third believe building on green field is prohibited in all cases. The research from planning consultancy Iceni Projects, also reveals that nearly 90% of the population have no knowledge of, or do not understand, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). Iceni is calling on the property industry and government to raise awareness of planning legislation and housing policies after new research shows a mammoth lack of knowledge amongst the general population on key planning issues. ‘Our research shows that there is a fundamental lack of understanding on key issues of planning policy, such as a misunderstanding that Green Belt must always be green,’ said Andrew Gale, director at Iceni Projects. ‘In addition, three quarters of respondents know little or nothing about housing policy in their local area. This is having a major impact on the industry’s ability to delivery much-needed housing and commercial space,’ he explained. Iceni’s survey found that over half the population oppose building on Green Belt, even though a significant group, 60%, do not even know what Green Belt is. ‘It is a grey area across communities in the UK, and we believe these serious misconceptions are a barrier to investment and growth. If the industry is to make any headway in narrowing the housing gap and delivering the facilities required to keep the UK a competitive economy, we need to take urgent action to educate and inform the public,’ said Gale. ‘We are therefore urging the government and industry to follow suit and ensure important decisions on new developments are made on the basis of a clear understanding of planning terminology,’ he added. The firm says that action is clearly wanted by the public with 68% of respondents supporting steps to make it easier for people to get involved in the planning process and 77% saying they do not know how to get involved in the planning process. The research also found that 60% of the population believe the Green Belt is not built on, where in reality much of the Green Belt already has buildings on it and there is huge confusion over whether the Green Belt is green with a 30% saying it is a type of green field, where in fact the Green Belt is not necessarily even ‘green’. Some 86% of respondents do not know how much of the UK’s surface is urban, with 58% overestimating and 27% saying they do not know, when in fact only 7% is urban, according to data from the UK National Ecosystem Assessment, 2012. Continue reading
UK house price sentiment moderates
Almost 20% of households in the UK perceived that the value of their home rose in January, according to the latest House Price Sentiment Index which reveals a downward trend in 2014. Some 19.5% of the 1,500 households surveyed across the UK said that the value of their home had risen over the last month, while 3.1% reported a fall, the data from Knight Frank and Markit Economics shows. This gave the HPSI a reading of 58.2, the twenty second consecutive month that the reading has been above 50. The index report points out that the HPSI was on a general downward trend for most of the second half of 2014. January’s reading of 58.2, the lowest in 14 months, was a continuation of this trend and well below the average reading for last year of 61. In spite of the month on month fall, households in all 11 regions covered by the index reported that prices rose in January, led by Londoners at 65.3 and households in the South East at 63, while, households in the North West at 53 and Wales at 53.9 perceived the slowest rates of price growth over the course of the month. In London, perceptions of house price growth moderated compared to the previous month and stand well below the previous high of 74.9 in April last year, suggesting that households are less confident that the value of their property has risen than previously. The future HPSI, which measures what households think will happen to the value of their property over the next year, fell in January to 69.5, down from 70.5 the previous month. This was the second consecutive monthly fall in house price expectations across the UK. The future HPSI stands well below its record high of 75.1, which was seen in May 2014. Households in London at 75.3 are the most likely to expect price rises over the next 12 months, followed by those in the South West at 75.1 and the South East at 74.9, the index shows. Expectations of price growth are highest among mortgage borrowers and those who own their home outright with readings of 75.8 and 71.3 respectively, followed by those living rent free at 66.8. ‘House price sentiment has slowed across the country despite the cut in stamp duty introduced by the Chancellor in December. Households in London and the South East signal slower annual rises in house prices this month than last month, an important development as these areas have been the engines of high house price growth over the last year,’ said Grainne Gilmore, head of UK residential research at Knight Frank. ‘Even the prospect of record-low interest rates being in place for longer than anticipated has not been enough to lift expectations for house price growth on a monthly basis in January, however this, coupled with an expected rise in wage growth will likely result in modest price uplifts over 2015,’ she added. Tim Moore, senior economist at… Continue reading
Legal firm gives lowdown on new energy standards for UK landlords
Residential landlords in the UK are at risk of financial penalties and being unable to let their properties if they fail to meet minimum energy efficiency standards (MEES) that come into play in 2018, it is claimed. Law firm Maples Teesdale has warned that the new standards equate to a ticking time bomb that could have a detrimental impact on rental income and property values if left unaddressed. The non-domestic minimum energy efficiency regulations for England and Wales will mean that by 01 April 2018, all relevant properties will have to be improved to a minimum energy efficiency standard before being let to tenants, except where certain exemptions apply. Additional Tenant’s Energy Efficiency Improvement Regulations must be in force by 01 April 2016 and will empower tenants to request consent for energy efficiency measures that may not unreasonably be refused by the landlord. ‘These regulations are likely to have a big impact on the private rented sector. They are presenting a straightforward ultimatum: bring your properties up to scratch in terms of energy efficiency, or risk losing income,’ said Neil Sagoo, partner at Maples Teesdale. The consequences for landlords who do not invest in bringing their properties up to minimum standards are likely to be severe, the firm warns. There will be financial penalties, possibly geared to the rent earned while the landlord is in breach, applied to those who fail to comply and, in extreme cases, a tribunal can force landlords to make the necessary changes. ‘This means that landlords can no longer pay lip service to energy efficiency. Whereas it was once a worthy aspiration, it is becoming is fundamental as fire safety or building regulations and is to be ignored at your peril,’ added Sagoo. Following a brief consultation at the end of last year, the Government has indicated that it aims to have the regulations in place ahead of the May general election. Implementation of MEES is likely to follow in stages, coming into effect on all new lettings from April 2018 and for remaining existing lettings from April 2023. Continue reading
