TAB has called on the UK’s next Prime Minister to prioritise planning reform, support landlords and overhaul property taxation, arguing that current policies are limiting investment and slowing regeneration.

Comments from the specialist lender come after Keir Starmer announced that he was to resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party.

Karen Rodrigues, sales director at TAB, said the specialist lending sector could play a larger role in housing delivery and commercial redevelopment, but warned that planning delays and tax burdens are preventing projects from moving forward.

She said: “The biggest issue is planning reform. The next PM needs to introduce a refreshed planning system, with statutory deadlines, greater local authority resourcing and a presumption in favour of converting redundant commercial space.”

Rodrigues argued that faster approvals for change-of-use applications would help unlock investment and accelerate regeneration, adding that while lenders are operating at speed, “the planning system is moving at a snail’s pace”.

TAB also wants to see stronger support for the private rented sector, including reinstating mortgage interest tax relief for landlords, removing the stamp duty land tax (SDLT) surcharge and restoring the wear and tear allowance.

"Stamp duty must be reformed. This could include lower SDLT rates on commercial and mixed-use acquisitions, or reliefs for bringing vacant buildings back into use. The property market suffers from too much transactional friction", Rodrigues said.

"Finally, I hope the next government focuses on long-term housing delivery. This may sound like a purely residential issue, but it directly affects specialist property finance, too."

---