Our response to Government's proposed planning reforms

The Government has launched a consultation on wide-ranging changes to the planning system. It's published proposed revisions to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

What the proposals include

• changes to the way that housing targets will be set
• where housing is built will continue to be identified through a Local Plan
• Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) will be expected to prepare an up-to-date plan 
• updated plan will show how LPAs can deliver the mandatory housing numbers 
• councils will be expected to meet the mandatory housing figure unless they can demonstrate:
• - 'hard constraints' locally
• - they have exhausted all other possible options, including a thorough review of the Green Belt

How the proposal may affect our council

The Government intends the proposed revisions to prompt councils to:

• identify 'grey belt' land within the Green Belt that they can bring forward into the planning system
• broaden the existing definition of brownfield land
• strengthen the expectation that applications on brownfield land will be approved

Government figures show that the proposed new method would increase our housing target from 743 new homes per year to 1,102

What housing have we delivered

In recent years, we have been delivering housing above the current target. Our average of new homes per year over the last three years was 745. 

This is above the area's longer-term average. Nevertheless the new target of 1,102 appears extremely challenging for our borough to meet.

We will be carefully considering our responses to all 106 questions in the consultation. We will take into account the implications that the proposed changes would have on the future of:

• the borough
• communities
• businesses

Interested parties have until 24 September to respond to the consultation. 

What Lead Councillor for Planning, Councillor Fiona White, said:

"A key priority for our council is for local people to have access to decent homes they can afford. We've already committed some of our own land to build new sustainable and affordable homes in the borough.

We will be carefully considering how the increased housing numbers proposed by the Government will impact the borough. We will need to demonstrate how this level of development can be accommodated through the Local Plan update as well as showing that all options have been considered. This will need to be evidence driven."

Published on 5 August 2024