This week the prime minister Boris Johnson has unveiled his new plans for affordable housing in the UK.

The plan has been put in place to help the country bounce back from the coronavirus period we have been going through.

But what exactly does the plan entail and is it good news for people looking to get on the property ladder?The Boris Johnson Affordable Housing planThe main thrust of the plan is that they want to make more affordable homes in places where people actually want to live.

What this means in practice is a loosening of restrictions in city centres as regards change of use and redevelopment of existing buildings.There will be less need for planning permission for changing the use of property to residential.

For example, this could be pubs or retail spaces that have been closed and empty in city centres, or old industrial buildings that require re-purposing.New regulations aim to give greater freedom for buildings and land in town centres to change use without planning permission.

It is hoped that this will create new homes from the regeneration of empty buildings.Existing commercial properties, including unused shops, can be converted into residential housing more easily than in previous years.