Less than a quarter of the UK’s landlords feel planning reform will positively impact their business. This is according to a survey from specialist buy-to-let lender Landbay which found that more than three-quarters of property investors (77%) think planning reforms will not affect their BTL businesses in a positive way.
Just one in eight landlords (13%) thought the easing of planning rules could create more opportunities to purchase new-build properties.
And just 9% thought planning reforms could lead to more jobs and economic growth – that demand for rental accommodation could rise, boosting occupancy rates.
When asked if they thought planning reform could help solve the housing crisis, nearly half (47%) said that planning reform alone would not solve the housing crisis. The skills shortage in the construction sector was cited as a major hindrance on new housing targets.
One landlord surveyed said it was impossible to achieve housebuilding targets with the current level of skills available.
“I own and operate a development company and construction company. The shortage of trades is very limiting.” Another said targets were “unrealistic while insufficient skills are available” and another said, “the government has been setting new homes targets for years – nothing ever changes.”
Commenting on the poll Landbay sales and distribution director Rob Stanton said: “If property investors are not convinced planning reform will positively affect their business, we’re in real trouble.
“Landlords are an important stakeholder in the planning system and the wider housing market, driving the conversion of properties to HMOs, refits and extensions – not to mention a chunk of new-build housing. So this level of scepticism and cynicism surrounding proposed reforms to our planning system is absolutely damning.”
He added: “As a country we clearly need planning reform. The Lower Thames Crossing has cost more than a quarter of a billion pounds just in planning and paperwork – not a single spade in the ground.
“It has cost us more to plan the crossing than it cost Norway to construct the world’s longest tunnel. HS2 is now the world’s most expensive railway line. The planning application to reopen the old three-mile Portishead railway line is 80,000 pages long – with over 1,000 pages dedicated to bats.”
