The development of new housing which provide jobs and importantly address the housing shortage in the UK are to be stopped in there tracks if new government rules on village referendums come into place. The stark warning comes from Property expert Vernon Pethard, of newhomesforsale.co.uk
Pethard described as a champion for new homes – has been a strong supporter of many Government policies since the coalition formed, but questions this latest move and the effect it will have on the property market. The fragile shoots of recovery in the UK housing market are in danger of being nipped in the bud by Government plans to introduce village referendums.
But Pethard questions a village community’s ability to come to an agreement and thinks dismissing an overruling council decision will prove a disaster.
The coalition Government plans to introduce local referendums which would give villagers the power to approve all new housing developments in their area.
The schemes would remove the need for council planning permission and instead require villagers to reach a 90 per cent agreement in favour of a new building.“Local opinion is important but our young people need homes to live in and passing this responsibility over to local communities, who may resist any form of change that impacts on their own rural idyll, would be frankly nothing more than a cop-out.”
As the sector makes a slow but unsteady recovery, Pethard believes Government is taking a risk with the proposed referendums and they ultimately won’t work.
“Sometimes tough decisions have to be taken and you can’t please all of the people all of the time.There should be consultation, there should be debate but ultimately to pass all the decision-making power regarding where and what type of homes to build, would create chaos and still leave many feeling let down, whatever the outcome.” says Pethard.
POSTED BY 
