Housing And Planning
State interference in land use and housing often results in an unresponsive market or projects that suit outside interests and not the community. Our policies aim to reverse this position, and put local people back in charge of local developments.
Policy
- We will undertake a thorough review of planning laws to facilitate a speeding up of the planning process. We will also ensure that local populations have a strong voice in planning decision making, and can resist moves by Authorities who may be attempting to push through a project that is not necessarily in the interests of residents.
- Until a practical Land Value Taxation system can be devised, forms of zoning (such as Green Belts) will still be needed.
- Review building regulations, and repeal any that impose impractical limitations on configuration or liveability.
- Make HIPs voluntary.
- Abolish Stamp Duty: the de-facto tax on house buying.
- Create a planning environment that does not hamper the investment in infrastructure necessary to improve economic efficiency and to make Britain the location of choice—to become the "Hong Kong of the Atlantic". Example projects in this category include High Speed Rail, new airports, and new commuter and freight railways.
- Permit more private toll roads, but do not subsidise them through national taxation.
- Planning consent to return to the historic position of implied consent for development unless objections can be proven, reversing the recent trend to put the burden of proof on the developer.
- Encourage a framework for local residents to have first call on land sales/developments in their village/town to remove bias against local voluntary collectives building heterogeneous developments.
- Compulsory Purchase Orders to be abolished as a violation of property rights in contravention of Rule of Law.