RICS launches ‘manifesto for the built environment’
The RICS is launching a manifesto for the built environment ahead of next year’s general election.
The manifesto, titled Empowering a Sustainable Future, will be presented at the Conservative Party Conference next week and Labour’s the following week.
RICS chief executive Justin Young said: “As a leading representative of the built and natural environment sectors in the UK and globally, RICS advocates policies with solutions to some of the most critical challenges of our time. The public needs safe, sustainable, energy-efficient and affordable homes; businesses need high-quality commercial spaces that align with the decentralised digital economy; while the industry needs a more robust pipeline of diverse talent that fulfils the skills demands of the sector so that it can deliver its goals.”
The RICS is launching a manifesto for the built environment ahead of next year’s general election.
The manifesto, titled Empowering a Sustainable Future, will be presented at the Conservative Party Conference next week and Labour’s the following week.
RICS chief executive Justin Young said: “As a leading representative of the built and natural environment sectors in the UK and globally, RICS advocates policies with solutions to some of the most critical challenges of our time. The public needs safe, sustainable, energy-efficient and affordable homes; businesses need high-quality commercial spaces that align with the decentralised digital economy; while the industry needs a more robust pipeline of diverse talent that fulfils the skills demands of the sector so that it can deliver its goals.”
The RICS manifesto sets out a 10-point roadmap, which includes points focused on creating safe, sustainable and affordable homes for all, building safety and future skills for a sustainable built environment.
The 10 key recommendations are:
Introduce a comprehensive and ambitious housing delivery strategy that focuses on local needs, skills and the creation of new homes through building and conversions.
Embed safety, quality and sustainability standards in property conversions to build healthy homes.
Revitalise high streets through investment in community infrastructure and the repurposing of commercial property into homes where suitable.
Reform the community infrastructure levy system and section 106 agreements to combine the best of both systems to unlock growth, and offer incentives for brownfield site remediation to encourage regeneration of existing sites rather than simply building new.
Inward investment must be prioritised through a stable policy and regulatory environment.
Develop a national property strategy to attract foreign investment and expand funding for brownfield development.
Progressive energy efficiency targets, building passports and holistic retrofit programmes forour built environment, recognising economic and social well-being as well as environmental benefits.
Prioritise consistent building safety standards across the UK and resource building safety functions to ensure effective delivery.
Modernise the Landlord and Tenant Act to encourage mediation, reform the business rates system, retrofit public buildings and review green belt to allow for greater housing.
Commit to sustainable transport, digital connectivity and land stewardship in climate change mitigation.
Young added: “The RICS manifesto provides food for thought for the parties as they develop their policy platforms for the next general election, and we look forward to engaging with their policy teams at the upcoming party conferences.”
The full manifesto can be found here.
To send feedback, e-mail piers.wehner@eg.co.uk or tweet @PiersWehner or @EGPropertyNews
