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Supercharging commuter hubs: Why projects like Edenbridge are the future of UK housing

The UK government has announced a clear new directive to tackle the housing crisis: let’s build more homes near transport hubs. This new policy, announced as part of the broader Plan for Change, will contribute to the target of 1.5 million new homes over the next five years.

 

Revealed by the Labour government on 27th January, the ambition is to unlock land near commuter hubs for development. Under the new framework, developers submitting applications for qualifying schemes will benefit from a “default yes” approach.

 

This move has potentially huge implications for SME developers, a sector that has been vocal about the challenges posed by current planning regulations. With limited capital, developers targeting schemes of between £5m to £100m GDV are often reluctant to tie up resources in projects were planning permission is less straightforward. As a result, hundreds of projects get dropped every year.

 

This policy shift, set to be formalised in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill this Spring, will come in alongside further planning reform.

 

Edenbridge: A blueprint for success

 

This Shojin-funded project at Town Station Goods Yard, Edenbridge serves as a prime example of the demand for residential development located in key commuter belt areas. Just 45-mins from London Bridge station, Edenbridge is an affluent Kent town, with limited existing housing stock and a dearth of new homes.

 

The developer, Total Homes and Developments (THD), picked up the project after it had achieved planning permission for the site, located adjacent to the train station and bordering the Green Belt. They subsequently worked with Network Rail to refine and approve designs through the Basic Asset Protection Agreement (BAPA) process, addressing safety, access, and operational requirements to protect railway infrastructure.

 

THD continue to work with Network Rail’s Asset Protection and Optimisation team during construction to ensure adherence to the approved designs, safety protocols, and monitoring requirements.

 

This serves as a perfect example of how small and medium-sized housebuilders are particularly well-positioned to deliver these projects. Their local knowledge, flexibility, and ability to tackle smaller, more complex sites make them ideal partners for transport hub development. Supporting these SME builders will be crucial for achieving the government's housing targets.

 

Edenbridge-Site-visit-800-1

 

The role of property investment in delivering growth

 

Investment platforms like Shojin are key to achieving the government's ambitious 1.5 million homes target. By connecting investors with carefully vetted development opportunities, including those near transport hubs, these platforms can help unlock the capital needed to drive development forward while offering investors access to lucrative, asset-backed real estate opportunities.

 

If you’re interested in investing in projects like Edenbridge by Total Homes and Development, visit the Shojin Investor Portal and invest from as little as £1,000.

 

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