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 consultation paper 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 “significant weight” to the benefits of delivering as many homes as possible, especially on brownfield land.