New National Planning Policy Framework: CCN response

Today the government has published its new National Planning Policy Framework, following a consultation over reforms to the planning system this summer.

The framework includes mandatory housing targets for planning authorities – with numbers for some county areas rising more than the initial targets outlined in the summer – as well as the re-introduction of a five-year land supply policy for local authorities.

Below, the County Councils Network responds.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Housing and Planning Spokesperson for the County Councils Network, said:

“The County Councils Network (CCN) has called for a long-term plan for housing, and today’s updated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) is a big step in that direction. County and unitary councils recognise that there is a chronic housing affordability crisis across the country, and the vast majority of these local authorities do support the principle of nationally set targets. However, we are concerned that the housing targets announced today are even higher for some county and rural councils compared the initial numbers outlined in the summer.

“The re-introduction of five-year land supply, and increasing it to six years in some instances, could effectively invalidate Local Plans that have been agreed and gone through a publicly-accountable process. This could mean a developer free for all with more planning permissions by appeal on sites outside of Local Plans, leading to development in unsuitable locations regardless of local views. The government has said its changes will ensure Local Plans are delivered as agreed, but the changes announced today and the existence of the requirement to maintain a five-year housing supply is contrary to this.

“Councils understand the need to update Local Plans based on the new NPPF, and to keep them up-to-date based on sites that come forward, but in some instances these can take time and local areas should not be penalised for trying to ensure that proposals are scrutinised and local views are heard and debated properly. Instead, CCN strongly believes that the requirement to maintain a five-year land supply should be removed where authorities have an up-to-date local plan in place that has been approved by a Planning Inspector.

“Whilst ministers have spoken of the need to ensure we have sufficient infrastructure – such as roads, school places, and GP surgeries – to support these thousands of new homes, there is little to back up their rhetoric in the updated NPPF. Considering much of the new development will be in parts of county areas with limited public transport and services, it is vital the government sets out ways to better capture the money required to build the necessary infrastructure.

“With the government keen to reform many different parts of the planning system, it is an opportune time to bring back strategic planning ahead of the new housing targets, and we hope to see further details on this in the forthcoming Devolution White Paper.”