The new government has hit the ground running with some very welcome planning policy announcements following its election.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves promised to ‘get Britain building’ in her first keynote speech.
Chief measures were:
- Review of National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
- Return to compulsory housebuilding targets
- Universal local plan coverage
- Review of green belt boundaries
- Prioritisation of brownfield and ‘grey belt’ land
- Funding for 300 more planning officers at local councils
- Onshore wind farm ban lifted
- New taskforce to accelerate stalled housing sites
We welcome changes that will reverse the recent backward steps that did not support the development industry and delivery of new homes.
We are hopeful that the development industry will thrive under the new government.
In more detail, Ms Reeves said that the government intended to have 1.5 million homes built over the course of the next Parliament – effectively 300,000 per year over five years.
This is a return to previous targets but the new government must ensure that the policies are in place to enable this goal to be reached.
Extending availability of land with the so-called ‘grey belt’ of poor quality land – such as car parks or wasteland – in the green belt is welcome. However, this grey belt policy must not become an excuse to rule out green belt land for development in local plans.
The government is to consult on revisions to the NPPF and write to local authorities to say that universal local plan coverage and green belt reviews are required by the end of July.
Ms Reeves also signalled greater government intervention with reviews of applications where there is potential gain for regional and national economies.
Her pledge ‘not to succumb to a status quo which responds to the existence of trade-offs by always saying no’ is also a welcome statement of intent.
We will wait to see what other measures are included in the revised NPPF – with consultation due by the end of July – and other policy announcements.
We will keep you updated.
