ePolitix.com Stakeholders comment on the housing and planning policies announced in the Queen's speech.

Stakeholder response: NHBC

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Imtiaz Farookhi, NHBC chief executive, said:  "I'm pleased that the government has reinforced its commitment to place housing as a key priority in its legislative agenda.

"The industry is facing unprecedented challenges and we must ensure that consumer interests are central as we work towards addressing them."

Stakeholder Response: RICS

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Luke Herbert, RICS UK public policy manager, said: "The new homes and communities agency put in place by the Bill runs the risk of being short on capacity and will need a radical upgrade over the Housing Corporation and English Partnerships if it is to fulfil the remit the Government now proposes.

"The current fixation on housing numbers could overshadow the regeneration focus of the merged body.

"Communities are more than houses and flats, people must also be able to work, socialise and live their lives within a safe and attractive environment, something the merged organisation would be well placed to do.

"The government must ensure that the new agency retains a role as an effective urban regeneration body and does not simply become a green field housing developer."

On ecotowns, he added:

"Developing any brand new town runs the risk of creating isolated pockets of housing, not linked to wider communities.
"The advantages of eco towns may be lost if they are not created to be strong communities or are reliant on private cars for transport. It may be better to look at the possibility of creating eco-extensions to existing communities, rather than completely new towns."

On the proposed Planning Reform Bill, he added:

"The government must work with industry to ensure that the structure for the new planning charge is established in a way that effectively achieves their aims.

"It must fund essential new infrastructure while also ensuring a clear and fair environment for business.

"The charge must also be simple to administer and should not place excessive burdens on already stretched local authority planning departments."

On planning for small extensions, he added:

"RICS support the removal of certain household projects from the planning system.

"This will exclude many types of minor development from the planning system and should help make it quicker and more efficient.

"We support the principle of local development orders but the government must acknowledge that they will be difficult to introduce in areas with varied building forms and townscapes."