“The ARL welcomes the release of the revised National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) today and the explicit reference to Build to Rent (BTR) as part of mixed tenure sites which the NPPF states that local planning authorities should support in delivering a sufficient supply of homes.
“We have consistently expressed the ability and desire of the rental living sector, including BTR, to deliver additional homes which are in such great demand but also highlighted the challenges that the planning system presented.
“In the ARL’s formal response to the Government’s NPPF review consultation, submitted on behalf of the entire rental living sector, we made several crucial calls. These included a call for targets for purpose-built rental homes within local authority local plans as part of a mixed-tenure approach that delivers homes for all; for all local plans to be mandated to include specific policies on BTR housing, including affordable housing within the sector; and that guidance should be clear that BTR be specifically recognised within local plans and guidance to account for this unique residential typology.
“Whilst the ARL welcomes the Government’s commitment to “immediate mandatory housing targets for councils to ramp up housebuilding”, we are disappointed not to see targets set for purpose-built rental homes within future local plans nor specific policies on BTR housing being mandated in local plans. The ARL is pleased to see the need for councils and developers to “give greater consideration to social rent when building new homes” but as stated in our submission, strongly suggest that targets for social rent within BTR schemes can be met through Discount Market Rent provision.
“The ARL also welcomes the NPPF requirement to ensure homes are high-quality and well-designed. Homes of high-quality, purposefully designed and built for rent, are one of the hallmarks of BTR, along with being affordable and secure, with the BTR Code of Practice - due to be launched in Q1 2025 - defining the standards to which the sector operates.
“The ARL has long recognised the acute housing crisis in the UK but believes that homes of all tenures, to meet all needs, must be provided in order to furnish households with real choice regarding where and how they live. This includes delivering more BTR homes across the UK – not to replace home ownership but as a housing tenure that promotes choice and delivers additional new, good quality homes.
“The BTR sector has already delivered over 120,000 additional new homes for rent with a further 103,000 homes in the planning system. It has the capacity to deliver 2 million more to the private rented sector. By its nature, BTR can deliver at scale, bringing a specific rental product of quality new homes which are professionally managed and institutionally backed, to the private rented sector, helping to drive standards higher for all renters. BTR’s ability to act as a catalyst for regeneration and community creation should also be noted and valued.
“Representing all BTR, multi-family (urban BTR), single family housing (sub-urban BTR) and Co-Living, the operators, investors and suppliers across the UK, the ARL and its members stand ready to work with the Government, increasing housing supply with high quality homes that put the customer at the heart of the development.”
