Chancellor George Osbourne has announced developers will automatically be given permission to build on suitable disused land.
The decision is part of a major reform to boost housebuilding.
New powers would be made available to seize disused land, while major housing projects could be fast-tracked with rules on extensions in London relaxed.
The measures are part of the Chancellor's Fixing the Foundations package.
Mr Osbourne said the plans would help tackle the housing shortage and make Britain more prosperous.
The Chancellor said: "Britain has been incapable of building enough homes. The reforms we made to the planning system in the last parliament have started to improve the situation: planning permissions and housing starts are at a seven-year high.
"But we need to go further and I am not prepared to stand by when people who want to get on the housing ladder can't do so.
"We'll keep on protecting the green belt, but these latest planning reforms are a vital part of a comprehensive plan to confront the challenge of our lifetime and raise productivity and living standards."
The British Property Foundation (BPF) has praised the announcement.
The organisation stated the decision has the potential to be an 'enormous boon' to housing supply.
However, it also warned that some of the new measures will only work if the government addresses the severe shortage of funds within local authority planning departments.
It also outlined concerns that with its focus on Right to Buy and Starter Homes, the government is overly concerned with providing homes for owner-occupation.
Melanie Leech, Chief Executive of the BPF, said: "The raft of planning announcements today really hit the nail on the head for a number of planning issues.
"We are particularly pleased to see a commitment to bring forward brownfield land for redevelopment and also the focus on Local Plans, as the absence of such is a real block to local growth."
(LM)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Construction News
10/07/2015
Chancellor Relaxes Planning Rules In Bid To Boost Housebuilding
Latest Construction News
22/11/2024
GMI Construction Group has reached a major milestone ahead of schedule in the construction of a £15.7 million waste-to-energy facility in County Durham. The steel framework of the 75,000 sq ft high-temperature thermal treatment plant has been completed, marking significant progress in the ...
22/11/2024
Cure has secured planning permission for a large new residential development in Keynsham, located along Bath Road. The project will deliver 208 homes designed with energy efficiency, community living, and sustainability in mind. The development will include a mix of 168 houses and 40 flats, with ...
22/11/2024
Morgan Sindall Construction has completed the restoration of West Bromwich Town Hall and Library, revitalising the iconic Grade II listed building for the community. Delivered five weeks ahead of schedule, the project preserves the historic site's architectural heritage while ensuring its future ...
22/11/2024
British Steel has unveiled a state-of-the-art rail stocking facility at its headquarters in Scunthorpe, marking a £10-million investment to bolster the UK's rail infrastructure. The new hub is the largest of its kind in the country and is set to play a pivotal role in supporting the rail ...
22/11/2024
Manchester City Council is seeking developers to transform a surplus multi-storey car park on Church Street into a landmark project in the heart of the city's iconic Northern Quarter. Named St Paul's, after the historic church that once stood on the site, the 1.54-acre (0.62-hectare) location ...
22/11/2024
A £500,000 project to refurbish the gateway to Tadcaster is set to begin next month, aimed at enhancing the town's appeal to visitors and supporting local businesses. The improvements will focus on upgrading the bus station, public toilets, and adding visitor amenities to make the area more ...
22/11/2024
Wandsworth Council has approved plans for 50% affordable housing. The changes to the local plan would require developers to deliver 50% affordable housing on all new schemes, with a majority to be council housing. The Local Plan formalises how the council works with developers to create and ...
22/11/2024
Homebuilder Thakeham has handed over the first nine homes at its Holmhurst St Mary development near Hastings, East Sussex, to Southern Housing. Addressing the need for affordable homes in the local community, Holmhurst Gardens is a 100% affordable housing scheme comprising both homes for rent and ...
22/11/2024
Thames Water has announced the completion of a £9.7 million upgrade to Benson Sewage Treatment Works, boosting its capacity and improving environmental outcomes. The project, which began in June 2022, was finished at the end of 2023 and has increased the site's treatment capacity by 29%, from 58 ...
22/11/2024
Dean Clough, the award-winning, 22-acre mixed use commercial destination in Halifax, has agreed new deals to let regional office space to two global operators. Severn Glocon, a global leader in industrial valve engineering and manufacturing, has secured a 2,460 sq ft of office space in Crossley ...