Government announces planning refresh to stimulate housebuilding
The government has announced a consultation on updating the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) so that it can address housing growth and deliver news homes and communities. This includes setting mandatory targets for housing developments, require every council to produce a Local Plan, outline conditions for land use, and smarten up digital infrastructure to boost supply.
The government came to power with a promise of housing growth and a promise to construct 1.5 million new homes during the lifetime of this Parliament. The King’s Speech subsequently confirmed this commitment in a forthcoming Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The proposed updated NPPF is associated with this legislative process and is seeking to align the NPPF with the Bill so that the planning requirements and targets for increased housing and infrastructure growth can be achieved.
The deadline for consultation is 24 September 2024.
There is a welcome reference to the need for more social and affordable housing and measures outlined to stimulate growth, to be further outlined in a forthcoming long-term housing strategy. We look forward to seeing further details. Other proposals include:
- Review of the ‘green belt’ and use of ‘grey belt’
- A ‘golden rule’ of 50% affordable homes in ‘green belt’ areas
- Making changes to ‘Right to Buy’ and introduce greater flexibilities for councils
- New flexibilities of the Affordable Homes Programme in London
- Building a new generation of New Towns and healthy places
Commenting on the announcement, Housing LIN’s CEO, Jeremy Porteus, stated:
“We welcome the thrust of these proposals and recognition of the need to build more social and affordable homes for all as well as making the link to health and wellbeing. However, if they are not accessible and care-ready – and built to the HAPPI design principles as a minimum – older people and people with disabilities will continue to experience disadvantages and a lack of access to housing that meets their lifestyle choices. In addition to the one reference to older people (paragraph 6 in the NPPF consultation), we call for local plans to be supplemented with clear guidance on how councils will specifically meet the housing needs of their ageing population, both for age-friendly mainstream homes and purpose-built specialist accommodation such as extra care housing and supported housing.”
If you found this of interest, check out more about planning for an ageing population on our online planning portal.