Local authorities will be told how to improve the viability of housing schemes following a review of government regulations. The study, undertaken by QS Davis Langdon, will assess its cost to the housebuilding industry

The government will then use the findings to issue guidance to local authorities about how to lighten the regulatory burden.

The communities department has asked the QS to provide a “national baseline” figure for he total cost of meeting regulations per home built. This, along with other studies being conducted by the Homes and Communities Agency and Reading university, will feed in to a review of regulation in the sector in advance of next month’s budget.

Red tape is frequently cited by housebuilders as an obstacle to the commercial viability of sites. Last week Steve Morgan, the chairman of Redrow, criticised the excessive burden of regulations faced by the industry.

Davis Langdon has been asked to look at the impact of Parts E, L and M of the Building Regulations, the town planning acts, the Code for Sustainable Homes, the Lifetime Homes standard and construction products regulations.

It will also look at the impact of costs imposed upon builders at a local level by section 106 and affordable housing rules.

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