Report will demand planning changes to help 'build to rent' schemes

Thursday 5th July 2012

An influential report, due to be published this month, is set to call for major changes to the planning system in order to encourage major growth of the private rented sector.

The Montague Report is also likely to recommend changes to taxation in order to encourage so-called ‘build to rent’ schemes.

Sir Adrian Montague had been asked by housing minister Grant Shapps to look into how major institutional investors could be encouraged to support the private rented sector, to help provide more new homes.

The Montague Report is likely to advise that councils should include new private rented developments in their local plans – and should waive the usual requirements for affordable housing to be included in schemes.

It will also propose that the Government offers loans to support large-scale, new-build private rented sector developments.

The review is also likely to recommend the setting up of a specialist housing task force to bring forward more public land for private rented sector schemes.