The government’s reforms to the UK’s planning system will result in housebuilding reaching its highest level in over 40 years, the Office for Budget Responsibility has predicted.

It’s thought that housebuilding will be increased by 170,000 homes over the next five years, which would see the government add 1.3 million homes to UK housing stock.

The Planning and Infrastructure Bill was introduced this month, with should reform planning committees and the compulsory purchase process.

Meanwhile the government invested £2 billion in the Affordable Homes Programme this week, which will provide grant funding to support developing affordable housing.

The OBR wrote: “Homes will be built on disused car parks and petrol stations, whilst national landscapes and sites of special scientific interest will continue be protected. Government guidance ensures that Green Belt will not be fundamentally undermined.

“This features as part of the Plan for Change to get Britain building, which also includes the Planning and Infrastructure Bill currently going through parliament, which the OBR will take a judgement on in due course.

“The government will also consult on policies to support a more streamlined and consistent planning system. As part of delivering the Plan for Change milestone to deliver 1.5 million homes by the end of this Parliament, the government will publish a Long Term Housing Strategy and has committed to set out details of further new government investment in social and affordable housing to at the Spending Review this year, following on from the £2 billion down payment announced yesterday as well as confirming the government’s plans to provide certainty for the transformative programme of building the new generation of new towns.”

Via @PropertyWire