The Housing Minister has announced £17million funding for a new ‘Right to Build’ programme gives local communities the powers to grant planning permission and provide support for local building projects to develop.
Local people get their building projects off the drawing board – with an ‘early bird bonus’ for those that move quickly and get their plans in early.
And a new support hub launched today will offer the help and advice they need.
Under the new Community Right to Build, communities will be able to approve new local developments without the need to go through the normal planning application process.
As long as the proposals meet certain criteria and there is the backing of more than 50 per cent of voters in a local referendum, these projects will get the go-ahead.
The Right to Build can be used for whatever communities need to make their neighbourhoods prosper and can include:
- family houses to sell or rent
- community halls
- homes designed specifically to meet the needs of older people
- children playgrounds; and
- shiops and business facilities
The Minister will also pledge an ‘early bird bonus’ of up to £2,000 to those that move quickly and get their plans in by the end of March next year.
And for those looking for advice and support, community charity Locality will launch a new website, phone line, seminars and detailed one-to-one mentoring for those looking to use their Right to Build. The advice service run by Locality is available to all communities. Further details can be found at www.mycommunityrights.org.uk/community-right-to-build