County Spotlight - Housing and Planning

This County Spotlight report highlights the work of County Councils Network (CCN) member councils across housing, planning, homelessness prevention and housing quality. This expanded edition of the Spotlight features 23 case studies and shows how unitary councils and county councils are working against a backdrop of major national planning reforms and rising demand for affordable homes.  

The evidence in our report demonstrates that counties are being asked to shoulder the bulk of England’s housing challenge without sufficient tools, funding or policy levers.

But the document also showcases how councils are innovating, using real-life examples—from delivering new homes and extra‑care schemes to tackling homelessness and upgrading housing stock—while outlining the pressures created by new national targets, infrastructure deficits and unaffordability in rural areas.

New analysis in the County Spotlight reveals:

• Under the government new housing targets, counties must deliver an 64,000 additional homes per year —higher than any other area.
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• Yet they are already building out homes: county areas delivered 54% of all new homes in England in 2023/24. Temporary accommodation spending by CCN unitaries has risen 184% since 2018/19, outpacing other regions.  
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• Councils report severe infrastructure gaps and believe reforms weaken local voices via the reintroduced five‑year land supply test.

Recommendations to government in the report include:

• Reform of developer contributions to properly fund infrastructure.
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• A revision of housing targets for county authorities.

• Remove or amend the five‑year land supply requirement where up‑to‑date Local Plans exist.
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• Provide enhanced funding for affordable housing, homelessness prevention and temporary accommodation.