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Michael Gove has announced changes to national planning policy in a bid to force councils to accelerate brownfield development.

The housing secretary, as part of a raft of policy announcements this week, has today published a on plans to require planning authorities to take a less restrictive approach when it comes to considering applications for development on brownfield sites.

The government is proposing requiring planning authorities to give 鈥渟ignificant weight鈥� to the benefits of delivering as many homes as possible, especially on brownfield land.

The proposed change would require councils to 鈥渢ake a flexible approach鈥� in applying planning policies relating to the internal layout of development where it would 鈥渋nhibit making the efficient use of the site鈥�.

A Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) spokesperson said: 鈥淓very council in England will be told that they will need to prioritise brownfield developments and instructed to be less bureaucratic and more flexible in applying policies that halt housebuilding on brownfield land.鈥�

The government is also proposing to include a 鈥減resumption in favour of brownfield development鈥� in the top 20 most populous towns and cities in England where housing delivery falls below an acceptable level. This is defined as a score below 95% in its annual housing delivery test.

The presumption would mean permission for development on brownfield sites should be granted in more circumstances.

DLUHC said: 鈥淭his new approach will put rocket boosters under brownfield regenerations projects across the country and provide the new homes the country needs, without affecting existing protections including for residential gardens, and ensuring protection for the character of suburban neighbourhoods.鈥�

In an article in the Times this morning, prime minister Rishi Sunak defended the decision to limit the measure to England鈥檚 largest 20 cities and towns.

He said: 鈥淭here鈥檚 little point in trying to force large new estates on our countryside and green belt when that is where public resistance to development is strongest and where the GP surgeries, schools and roads don鈥檛 exist to support new communities.鈥�

Ministers took the decision to propose a presumption in favour of brownfield development after the measure was recommended for the capital in the London Plan Review published today.

This review, launched by Gove in response to his concerns about delivery in the capital and led by KC Christopher Katkowski, said the presumption could lead to between 4,000 and 11,500 additional homes per year in London. Gove is now proposing to extend the measure to 19 other highly populated urban areas.

The government also published proposed changes to permitted development rights to make it easier for developers to convert commercial buildings, including shops and offices, into new homes, as well as demolishing unused buildings and bringing empty sites into development.

>>See also: Key takeaways from Gove鈥檚 big planning speech

>>See also: Gove and Khan鈥檚 row over London鈥檚 housing delivery numbers explained

>>See also: The revised planning framework is not as bad as feared - but don鈥檛 thank Gove

The consultation also contains measures to make it easier for homeowners to extend their homes outwards and upwards by increasing the circumstances in which extensions can be made without planning permission.

Today鈥檚 announcements follow doubling the amount of loan finance initially available through the scheme. The scheme allows registered providers to access private development finance at a cheaper rate as the government guarantees the debt.

The government in December , confirming that it is watering down housing delivery targets for local authorities but plans to introduce 鈥渟harper accountability鈥� in the form of league tables for planning authorities.

好色先生TV鈥檚 sister title Housing Today last month called  as part of its A Fair Deal for Housing campaign in a bid to boost development to 300,000 homes a year and beyond.