Less than a quarter of UK landlord investors believe that planning reform will have a positive impact on their business, according to a new survey from Landbay. Instead, 77% believe that it will have a negative impact.

Only one in eight landlords (13%) believe the easing of planning rules could create more opportunities to purchase new-build properties, while less than one in ten (9%) believe that it could lead to more jobs and economic growth.

Rob Stanton, sales and distribution director at Landbay, says: “If property investors are not convinced planning reform will positively affect their business, we’re in real trouble.”

Scepticism is damning

“Landlords are an important stakeholder in the planning system and the wider housing market, driving the conversion of properties to HMOs, refits and extensions – not to mention a chunk of new-build housing. So this level of scepticism and cynicism surrounding proposed reforms to our planning system is absolutely damning.”

When asked if they thought planning reform could help solve the housing crisis, nearly half (47%) said it wouldn’t, citing factors such as the ongoing skills shortage in the construction sector, which hinders building at the required pace.

Stalled projects

Stanton believes that stalled large infrastructure projects in the UK are proof that the UK needs urgent planning reform. “The Lower Thames Crossing has cost more than a quarter of a billion pounds just in planning and paperwork – not a single spade in the ground.”

“It has cost us more to plan the crossing than it cost Norway to construct the world’s longest tunnel. HS2 is now the world’s most expensive railway line and the planning application to reopen the old 3-mile Portishead railway line is 80,000 pages long – with over 1,000 pages dedicated to bats.”