Solent: Queen’s Speech focus on housing is half the story, cautions Vail Williams

The Solent region should welcome the focus on housing in the Queen’s Speech but keep up pressure on the Government to make sure commercial property gets the same support to create truly sustainable development.

That’s the verdict from the regional office of Vail Williams on the Conservatives administration’s legislative programme announced on May 27 which included plans to build 200,000 starter homes in the UK.

Philp Holmes, Vail Williams partner, responded: “Land was mentioned many times in the Queen’s Speech and the sale of council homes, for example, to fund the building of even more homes. But I think that principle should apply to freeing up commercial opportunities too, so that the market can make best use of it and unlock opportunities.

“In the south there is a chronic shortage of land to build the kinds of development that we need to attract new business, allow existing companies to expand, and to bring in new investment, jobs and grow the local economy.

“So while we are fully supportive of the push to deliver more homes for a growing population to live in, those residents also need places to work, shop and the infrastructure to support all that development such as broadband, transport and public spaces.

“That’s what the Queen’s Speech didn’t address fully: how to free up good land for good commercial development. We need to look at simplifying planning, cutting red tape, streamlining the classes of land use and opening up more opportunities.

“Examples of how we have got it right in the Solent region are the regeneration of Tipner in Portsmouth where public and private sectors have collaborated; at Dunsbury Hill where Portsmouth City Council is taking the lead to create new employment space; and at Lakeside, also in Portsmouth, where development has helped businesses to flourish.”

With the Queen’s Speech out of the way, business now has its eyes on the chancellor’s promised post-election budget on July 8.

Holmes added: “Hopefully the budget may fill in the fiscal gaps left by the Queen’s Speech with plans to give the push that many schemes need, such as land with costly contamination issues but is perfectly located for commercial development.

“We’re calling on the Government to take a coordinated response to planning, land and development costs to unlock the opportunity in the Solent region that is waiting to be released.”