Government planning reforms have come into force today under updates to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

They reintroduce mandatory housing targets for local authorities to support the government’s target for the construction of 1.5 million new homes in England over the next five years.

It wants ‘immediate, mandatory’ housing plans from local councils, who will have three months to progress local plans currently in development, subject to conditions that catch those significantly under the new housing targets.

There is also a new requirement for plans based on old targets which are still in place from July 2026. In these cases, councils will need to provide for an extra year’s supply of homes in their pipeline – six years instead of five.

The government has indicated that those councils dragging their heels on meeting the new targets risk intervention, potentially including having local plans taken from them.

While continuing to prioritise brownfield sites, the updated NPPF will require councils to review their greenbelt boundaries, identifying and prioritising lower-quality ‘greybelt’ land.

This ‘grey belt’ land has been defined in NPPF for the first time, with ‘golden rules’ on development for affordable housing, local services and green spaces.

Councils and developers will also need to give ‘greater consideration’ to social rent when building new homes.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said that ‘stronger action will ensure councils adopt up-to-date local plans or develop new plans that work for their communities’.

Today’s publication of the updated NPPF comes after consultation was opened on 30 July and closed on 24 September to which the government received more than 10,000 responses.

The MHCLG has also published a Planning Reform Working Paper on Planning Committees with views invited on further potential reforms:

• a national scheme of delegation – bringing clarity and consistency about which applications get decided by officers and which by planning committees
• dedicated committees for strategic development – allowing a dedicated and small group of councillors to focus on the most significant projects
• training for committee members – requiring that councillors undertake appropriate training before they can form part of a planning committee

The paper is published ahead of a Planning and Infrastructure Bill due to be introduced to Parliament early next year to create a more efficient and strategic approach.

It is encouraging to see the government publish the updated NPPF today as part of much needed and long overdue planning reforms.

It must maintain momentum and ensure that its reforms do not get bogged down or caught up into red tape or delays whether in parliament, consultative stages or when they come into force in the real world.

We will keep you updated about the changes but please don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about what they mean and how they will affect your project and plans.

ENDS