Pioneering, outspoken developer criticises lack of ambition and innovation in helping the next generation onto the property ladder

Ahead of the formal publication of the Levelling-Up White Paper tomorrow (2 February), pioneering and outspoken developer, Marc Vlessing, CEO of affordable housing developer Pocket Living, criticises lack of ambition and innovation in helping the next generation onto the property ladder.

Marc Vlessing said:

“It is positive that this white paper recognises that housing and regeneration are critical to balancing opportunity across the UK. However it is absolutely vital that we focus as much on intergenerational opportunity as geographical.

“A crucial component of this is expanding affordable homeownership to the generation of 20 and 30 year olds who are working hard to drive our post-pandemic recovery. Home-ownership has a significant multiplier effect on other social and economic benefits and gives people a greater stake in their communities, but it is a distant dream for many across the country.

“To address this, it is welcome to see an emphasis in the white paper on better utilisation of brownfield land within towns and cities with good transport connectivity. However, the intended benefits of these proposals could be further maximised, without recourse to additional state spending, were the Government to take an ambitious approach to planning reform in the coming months.

“With a faster and fairer planning system we can facilitate the densification of small brownfield sites near to transport hubs and enable more SME developers to deliver genuine innovation within the market. Doing so would drive productivity and help more young people take that vital first step onto the housing ladder.”

Kindly shared by Pocket Living

Main photo courtesy of Pixabay