The government has announced one of the most significant planning shake-ups in decades, a move designed to finally accelerate housebuilding and unlock 1.5 million new homes across the country. And for London, the impact could be massive.
From today, housing schemes near well-connected train stations will receive a default yes as long as they meet certain rules. This means faster decisions, fewer delays and more modern, high-quality, affordable homes being delivered where people actually need them, close to transport, jobs and education.
For a city like London, where space is tight and demand is sky-high, this is a major step forward.
What’s Changing?
Default Yes Around Train Stations
Developers building near well-connected stations (trains, trams, or key commuter hubs) will now benefit from automatic support, speeding regeneration and boosting local economies. This rule will even apply to certain areas within the Green Belt, modernising boundaries set 70 years ago to reflect today’s housing shortages.
Faster Approvals for Large Schemes
Councils must now inform government if they plan to refuse developments of 150 homes or more. The Housing Secretary can step in and overrule delays, ensuring good projects aren’t blocked. This is aimed at ending years of stalled sites and late decisions.
Streamlined Consultations
The reforms will cut the number of applications handled by statutory consultees such as heritage or sports bodies by up to 40%.
- Less paperwork.
- Faster turnarounds.
- More homes actually being built.
Big Push Around Brownfield Transport Hubs
The new government-backed property company Platform4 is already working to unlock 40,000 homes on brownfield land near railway stations, with the first four sites identified. This complements the new planning rules and sets a blueprint for future long-term growth.
Why This Matters for London Construction
London faces one of the toughest housing challenges in Europe. Skilled labour is limited, project costs remain high and planning delays have slowed down major developments across the capital. These reforms directly target those bottlenecks.
For builders, engineers, site managers, consultants, suppliers and everyone working on the tools, this means:
- more consistent pipelines of work
- quicker project starts
- increased demand for skilled labour
- more regeneration opportunities around key London stations
- a healthier long-term construction outlook
The message is clear: the government wants spades in the ground, fast.
What Leaders Are Saying
Steve Reed, Housing Secretary:
I promised we’d get Britain building and that’s exactly what we are doing. But it has to be the right homes in the right places and nearby transport links are a vital part of that.
We’re making it easier to build well-connected and high-quality homes, using stronger powers to speed things up if councils drag their feet, and proposing to streamline the consultation process to cut back delays.
This is about action: spades in the ground, breathing new life into communities, and families finally getting the homes they need.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor:
We’re ending years of dither and delay by green lighting affordable new homes for working people.
This is another demonstration that our Plan for Change is getting spades in the ground faster, connecting people with jobs and opportunities closer to where they live, and boosting towns and cities across the country.
Whether you agree or not, this is a direct signal that the UK is entering a new era of pro-growth, pro-building policy.
Our View: A Positive Move — But Delivery Will Be Key
For London’s construction ecosystem, this is a welcome shift. Transport-led development has always been the most sustainable model for growth and aligning planning rules with reality is long overdue.
However, success will depend on:
- local councils adapting quickly
- the construction workforce being ready
- supply chains staying strong
- skills shortages being addressed
- landowners actually bringing sites forward
If all this aligns, London could finally see the scale of housebuilding it has needed for years.
