Housing secretary Michael Gove has set out a series of new policies for England as part of the long-awaited National Planning Policy Framework, including relaxed housing targets for local authorities.
Gove unveiled the much-delayed NPPF in a speech at the Royal Institute of British Architects in central London, setting out a string of measures aimed at bolstering planning.
Under Gove’s changes, local authorities will no longer need to allocate greenfield land for new homes. Local housing targets have also become “advisory”, although Gove stressed that the NPPF was “not a route” to evading the need to build more homes.
Additionally, a review into the statutory consultee system will be carried out, amid efforts to speed up the planning process. Local planning authorities will be named and shamed in “robust league tables” if they are too slow to respond to applications.
How the industry reacted
The British Property Federation warned that watering down local housing targets could hamper housing delivery. However, the organisation showed its support for a review into the statutory consultee system, pointing to a “massive opportunity” to unlock capital if planning was modernised.
Ian Fletcher, policy director at the BPF, said: “By changing how local authorities should assess housing need the government is watering down its own national targets and creating more obstacles and delays to housing delivery.
“What is often overlooked is that if less land is allocated for housing, less land is likely to also be allocated for the commercial developments we need to create jobs and drive the economy. These changes could have far-reaching consequences and undermine the government’s growth agenda.
“Several aspects of the planning system are presently under consultation, leading some local authorities to delay publication of local plans, which in turn is deterring investment. We would like to see all local authorities have a local plan in place but government needs to use the carrot as well as the stick, providing more resources for planning departments and a clear policy framework to shape how plans are developed.
Fletcher added: “The review into statutory consultees is welcome and shows that government does recognise the need to speed up the process. There is a massive opportunity to unlock more private capital to revitalise towns and cities if government takes decisive action to modernise the planning system as well as commit the funding that planning departments need after a decade of cuts.”
Gove criticises Khan’s housebuilding record
The news comes as Gove accused mayor of London Sadiq Khan of “falling short” on housing delivery in London, citing that “further action” is necessary.
Gove has appointed a panel of advisers, led by Christopher Katkowski KC of Kings Chambers and comprising councillor James Jamieson, architect Paul Monaghan and town planner Wei Yang, to review the London plan and assess where development in the capital can be sped up. The group will publish its report in January.
In a letter dated 18 December, Gove told Khan: “If you cannot do what is needed to deliver the homes that London needs, I will.”
Khan hit back at the claims, posting on X that “the Tories are desperately trying to distract from their catastrophic housing record”.
He said a record number of homes have been built in the capital, more council homes have been started than since the 1970s, and Labour boroughs are delivering 50% more homes than Conservative ones.
Khan added: “While London has met our affordable homes target, the Govt have failed to meet their own. And completions are 20% higher in the capital than elsewhere.
“All progress we are making despite nimby Tory ministers regularly intervening to block new building in the capital.”
Separately, the government has issued guidance for local authorities and towns on establishing their long-term plans. Earlier this year, the prime minister said 55 towns will gain up to £20m each in funding and support, as part of a £1.1bn plan.
Read the full NPPF document >>
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