Government Earmarks Rail-Adjacent Land for Accelerated Housing Development

The UK government has announced a significant package of planning reforms designed to accelerate the delivery of housing, introducing a “default yes” for residential developments near well-connected train stations. The measures, detailed by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, form the second phase of the ‘Plan for Change’ initiative, which aims to deliver 1.5 million new homes during the current Parliament.

Central to the new policy is a forthcoming update to the National Planning Policy Framework, which will establish a rules-based, pro-growth approach for sites with strong transport links. This presumption in favour of development will apply across all local authorities in England and will notably extend to designated Green Belt land adjacent to railway stations. The proposals will also mandate minimum housing density standards for these locations, creating a clear directive for developers to maximise the potential of sustainable and well-connected sites. For the construction sector, this signals a predictable pipeline of projects and a strategic focus on transit-oriented schemes.

To further expedite development and remove procedural blockages, the Housing Secretary, Steve Reed, will be granted enhanced powers to intervene in the planning process. Local authorities will now be required to notify the government of their intent to refuse applications for 150 homes or more, particularly where a planning committee’s decision contradicts the advice of its planning officers. The Secretary of State may then call in the application for a final decision. The appeal process for such cases will also be streamlined, with the mandatory requirement for inquiries removed in favour of faster written representations where appropriate.

These changes are complemented by a proposal to streamline the statutory consultation process, with an aim to reduce application decision times by up to 40%. The government will consult on removing organisations such as Sport England, The Gardens Trust, and Theatres Trust from the list of statutory consultees.

These reforms directly support the work of Platform4, a new property company tasked with unlocking 40,000 homes on brownfield land near railway infrastructure. Early examples of this strategy are already underway, with sites including Newcastle Forth Goods Yard and Manchester Mayfield earmarked for redevelopment. This provides immediate, tangible opportunities for main contractors and their supply chains, particularly those specialising in brownfield regeneration and high-density residential construction. The policy alignment provides greater certainty for investment and planning within the sector, directly linking national housing targets to infrastructure-led growth.

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