Consultation has opened on proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).
It is open until Tuesday September 24, and includes measures to support increased housing provision with a new standard method for calculating housing need.
This will significantly increase the requirement for housing across most council areas – by more than 100% in some cases.
Here are the proposed figures for local planning authorities in the Wessex area:
| Local Authority | Adopted Local Plan Figure | Current Standard Method Figure | Proposed Standard Method Figure | Percentage Increase (from Current SM) |
| Dorset Council | 1,464 | 1,788 | 3,230 | 81% |
| BCP Council | 1,723 | 2,749 | 2,962 | 8% |
| New Forest District | 521 | 729 | 1,465 | 101% |
| Winchester CC | 625 | 676 | 1,099 | 63% |
| Test Valley BC | 588 | 524 | 921 | 76% |
| Southampton CC | 815 | 1,473 | 1,295 | -12% |
| Eastleigh BC | 729 | 645 | 902 | 40% |
| Somerset Council | 2,783 | 2,669 | 3,891 | 46% |
| Wiltshire Council | 2,100 | 1,917 | 3,476 | 81% |
| Isle of Wight | 520 | 703 | 1,104 | 57% |
The use of the Standard Method to determine housing targets will be made mandatory, requiring councils to plan for their need.
A lower figure can only be planned for where they can demonstrate hard constraints and that all options have been exhausted. There will be no opportunity to argue for exceptional circumstances.
This means that councils must review Green Belt boundaries and, if necessary, release land accordingly to meet housing needs.
The requirement for local authorities to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply will be firmly back in force under the proposals. The reduced four-year supply has been scrapped.
If a council does not have a five-year housing land supply, ‘Grey Belt’ land within the Green Belt can be brought forward for development without it being released from the Green Belt.
Importantly, this will include some sites that could not previously be developed. It does not after all only include land that is previously developed.
This is the biggest change to policy and one that will open up new development opportunities. Land which does not actually serve the purposes of Green Belt, will be considered Grey Belt and can be developed.
There are many more proposed changes – we will provide further information in more articles.
You can also contact us to find out more about how the changes will affect your plans or project.
