BPF comments on the Labour Party manifesto

Commenting on the Labour Party Manifesto, Melanie Leech, Chief Executive, British Property Federation said:

 “It’s positive to see Labour reaffirm their commitment to an industrial strategy and to working closely with business to deliver its ambitions. The property industry has the desire, skills and capital to invest in the UK’s built environment and a clear economic strategy and a re-set of our partnership with the next Government will unlock billions of pounds to build the more productive economy, new homes, rejuvenated town centres and sustainable future the UK needs.

“Labour is right to focus on improving the planning system as the key enabler of growth. Introducing effective strategic planning means that decisions are made at the appropriate national or regional level, rather than just locally, which will allow us to deliver more homes against a clear target and also provide the logistics infrastructure and business spaces we need to support sustainable communities. Measures to ensure up-to-date local plans are in place and a new approach to ‘grey belt’ land are also welcome as is the commitment to more local authority planners so that existing projects can be unblocked, and local authorities are better able to engage with our sector to provide for future needs.”