Conference season for political parties: Enhancements required within the event planning sector?

In the UK, a heated debate surrounding the green belt and the housing crisis has been gaining traction, with industry experts advocating for changes in the planning policy and a renewed focus on the private rented sector.

Ian Barnett, national land director at Leaders Romans Group, has highlighted the misconception that 47.1% of the UK is developed upon, when in reality only 8.7% is developed. He emphasises the need for a sensible discussion on the green belt, pointing out that many new communities are primarily 'green' spaces, significantly boosting both the aesthetic and biodiverse qualities of the land.

Keir Starmer has added his voice to the debate, stating that much of the green belt isn't green but rather preserves and protects unattractive edge-of-settlement brownfield sites. This raises questions about the potential for repurposing some green belt areas to increase housing numbers at scale without necessarily reducing the Green Belt.

The planning process in the UK has been plagued with delays and costs over recent years, according to Tim Foreman, managing director of land and new homes at Leaders Romans Group. He suggests a clearer and more straightforward planning policy, firm deadlines for local authorities' planning decision-making, and a clear set of guidelines and criteria for developers and planning consultants to streamline the planning consent process.

However, some developers are reducing their development starts and choosing not to buy land due to the current challenges and turmoil in the housing market, as stated by Foreman. This further complicates the situation, as a review of the green belt could potentially increase aesthetic value by repurposing certain areas.

Experts from Leaders Romans Group, one of the largest property service groups in the UK, have emphasized the need for a focus on the private rented sector during the party conference season. Allison Thompson, national lettings managing director of Leaders Romans Group, stated that the government must find a means to address the shrinking private rented sector due to landlord penalties if the Renters Reform Bill is passed.

The housing industry in the UK has faced significant challenges since the general election in December 2019, including a severe lack of affordable properties and major delays in development deliveries. Zoopla predicts around 1m transactions this year compared to nearly 1.5m in 2021. For house sales of £500k plus, the current stamp duty thresholds are considered punitive and deter a lot of people from moving up market, preventing the freeing up of smaller properties for either second-time buyers, first-time buyers, or investors.

Kevin Shaw, national sales managing director, suggests that the focus in the housing market should shift towards reducing the cost of moving. As the debate on the green belt and the housing crisis continues, it is clear that urgent action is needed to address these issues and ensure a sustainable future for the UK's housing industry.

Conference season for political parties: Enhancements required within the event planning sector?