The return of enhanced mandatory housing targets and allowing development on the ‘grey belt’ are among the key features of the government’s planning overhaul as they set out their plans for building 1.5million new homes.
The changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) follow a public consultation earlier this year as the government looks to address local councils’ poor housing delivery and speed up the creation of up-to-date local plans.
Areas with the highest housing unaffordability and the greatest potential for growth will see their delivery targets increased as the government looks to target a combined 370,000 new homes a year, leading to 1.5million new homes over the course of the next parliament.
A ‘common-sense’ approach is set to be taken on the Green Belt, with an expectation that land not meeting the established criteria to be reviewed for prospective development to meet targets. This development would need to meet strict requirements via the government’s ‘golden rules’ on providing necessary infrastructure, such as affordable housing, nurseries, GP surgeries, and transport.
A focus has also been placed on more accessible housing with the requirement for a ‘premium’ level of social and affordable housing and greater consideration needed to be given on social rent.
Alongside this, a formal definition for lower quality ‘grey belt’ land has been introduced, encompassing land in the Green Belt either previously developed or other land that doesn’t:
- check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
- prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another; or
- preserve the setting and special character of historic towns.
Fred Quartermain, Partner in the Thrings Planning and Environment team, said: “Whilst there are no major surprises in the changes that have come through, the immediacy with which the new NPPF is being introduced is going to place a lot of pressure on Local Authorities to ensure their own policies conform and it is recommended that they take legal advice at the earliest opportunity.
“It is clear from the significantly increased new targets that many Local Authorities face considerable challenges in delivering their required number of new homes. This could leave them exposed to an increased risk of speculative development but it should be treated as a driver for them to get an up-to-date local plan in place.
“Developers, meanwhile, will no doubt be pleased to hear that the government is pushing a sensible conversation of the future of the Green Belt and it will be interesting to see how this is taken forward and the conversations that will be had at a pre-application stage.”
Thrings’ Planning and Environment lawyers have extensive experience in navigating complex local and national planning policy legislation and has successfully supported commercial and residential applications through the approval and appeal processes. To find out more and for advice on your development proposals, including how to address enforcement notices, please get in touch.
