grounds or through the projects becoming frustrated by local opposition and failure to secure planning consents, then logically much new UK development may simply just not happen. Increases in both mortgage repayment costs over time and development costs caused in part by new housing having to meet increasingly higher standards of sustainability, seem inevitable.


To overcome the challenges of securing planning permission though in an environment of greater local empowerment, there could be some sense in housebuilders focusing on new schemes featuring simple yet striking housing designs which have broadly universal appeal. This should make it more difficult for local nimbys to oppose these developments without it becoming evident that their opposition is driven by a resolute determination to oppose all forms of development proposals rather than just to resist the promotion of poor quality schemes.


Could simple yet striking housing designs help overcome local nimbyism?


Although brownfield housing developments might still be expected to happen, other than


where contamination


remediation costs make such projects unviable, the spectre of huge new housing estates covering green fields, which typically might unite entire local communities in their opposition because of fears of impacts on local infrastructure and services, might prove to be an increasing rarity. Mid-size developments, particularly projects where there is sufficient scope in financial viability to enable healthcare of other community gains to be offered as part of the development mix, are more likely to win local support.


It is very much a matter of crystal ball gazing, but the best future prospects might prove to be for small, well-designed developments of less than 10 units, with the quality of design stimulating demand, increased development costs being off- set by there being no necessity to include affordable housing, and with the prospects of securing planning consent being sufficiently encouraging to counter the cost risks attached to working up new development proposals.


Kevin Joyce


References 1.


2. 3.


AND TO WN PL ANNERS ‘Housing starts down by a third’ Construction News 15 August 2011


‘National Planning Policy Framework 2011’ Paul Dimoldenberg Quatro Public Relations www.quatro-pr.co.uk


‘Localism wrecks development’ Property Week Front Page 24 June 2011


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many other public sector organisations For more information contact:


Iain Dewar - idewar@wilks-head.co.uk


Roger Messenger - rmessenger@wilks-head.co.uk 0207 637 8471


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28 THE TERRIER - Autumn 2011


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