Partner quoted in ‘Construction Law’ on move to block slow developers

Partner Christian Drage was quoted Nov. 24 by Construction Law (subscription required) on plans to block planning proposals from developers with a history of slow build out. Christian noted the policy is designed to incentivize – along with other measures in the Bill – the speed of completion of residential development, on the basis that permission for changes to a scheme, or for a new scheme altogether, may not be granted. “These amendments may well be concerning to those house builders who feel it will constrain their ability to make commercially driven scheme changes, and also to planning authorities as they have the potential to undermine housing delivery in an area,” he said. The policy may see developers becoming less willing to promote housing development in the first place if they are constrained in their ability to modify schemes to accommodate changing circumstances and market conditions, Christian noted. “They may find it harder to secure finance if banks are more cautious about lending on potentially less viable schemes.”