A new 'Cutting Red Tape' review has been launched by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

The consultation with house-builders and developers aims to give the Government an idea on the biggest issues affecting housebuilding.

In addition, it will allow the industry to 'have their say' on ineffective rules and heavy-handed enforcement that stop them building homes.

The key starting points for the review are based on the priorities raised by the Housing Implementation Task Force:

• Roads and infrastructure rules for new housing developments.

• Environmental requirements, particularly EU rules such as the Habitats Directive and wider EU environmental permit requirements.

• Rules that affect utilities (such as electricity, gas and water – as well as broadband infrastructure).


The Government also wants to look at the changes made to the Construction, Design and Management Regulations, as well as any examples of EU rules that are being implemented too strictly.

Business Secretary Sajid Javid said: "This review will give housebuilders and smaller construction businesses a powerful voice as part of our £10 billion deregulation drive. Where rules are too complicated, ineffective or poorly enforced, I want to hear about it and the Government will take action."

Housing Minister Brandon Lewis added: "We are determined to remove barriers faced by housebuilders to ensure we continue to keep Britain building as quickly and safely as possible.

"We want to hear the views of firms big and small so we can remove unnecessary red tape and help housebuilders do what they do best, building the homes we need."

Stewart Baseley, Executive Chairman of the Home Builders Federation, said the organisation welcomes the move to reduce "unecessary regulation and the associated costs".

"Aside from the planning system there are significant other regulatory processes and charges levied on the industry that can adversely affect viability, but also, critically, delay the ability of home builders to get on site and start building," he said.

"Reducing red tape will bring more sites into play more quickly and so help the industry deliver more desperately needed homes in the coming years."

(LM/CD)