Consultation Responses
We’ve responded to a couple of recent MHCLG and GLA papers, the responses are posted in the ‘what we’ve said‘ archive, and linked below for your convenience:
Green Belt
Guidance on reviewing Green Belt and identifying grey belt sites has been published. It will inform determination of applications for proposals utilising grey belt land and whether development of the site would be sustainable and the effect on the remaining Green Belt. There are ‘golden rules’ both within that guidance and in other guidance here for consideration of viability.
Slow build-out rates
According to the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) here, the government should explore measures to tackle “unproductive land speculation” and slow build-out rates by developers of permitted residential sites, rather than blaming the planning system and ‘red tape’ for the housing crisis.
Local Plan changes
Decisions by councils on new development will be clearer, simpler, and prepared up to four years faster, according to a planning overhaul announced by DHCLG. New changes include introducing regular assessments to help councils stay on track towards meeting their targets, greater clarity about how Local Plans should be prepared and updated, and using digital tools to increase transparency on available land for new development.
Drop in school places demand
A new report by London Councils has revealed London boroughs are supporting local schools as demand for school places continues to drop across the capital. It suggests a predicted decrease of 3.6% in reception pupil numbers in London over the next four years.
Housing Delivery Test failed in 9 boroughs
In the latest NPPF the Government changed rules on the annual Housing Delivery Test and nine London boroughs fell below achieving 75% of their target housing delivery pipeline. They are Barking (66%), Bromley (58%), Camden (53%), Greenwich (40%), Havering (61%), Kensington & Chelsea (60%), Lambeth (74%), Lewisham (32%), Newham (61%) and Richmond (60%).
Feedback is required from societies in those boroughs on the implications, what is happening on planning decisions which are now subject to a ‘presumption in favour‘ of housing and with the NPPF becoming the prime policy consideration for applications.… Read more...
Balancing quality and quantity to deliver 1.5m homes
This article was first published in Housing Today.
The government – and housebuilders – must be given the best possible chance of achieving its ambitious target writes Ben Derbyshire
Nobody wants new homes built nearby because what housebuilders do looks horrible and inevitably overwhelms local infrastructure – right? Well, hold on. How else can the government achieve its target of a million and a half new homes within the life of this parliament?
According to the 2024 Competition & Markets Authority report, in 2021-22 the largest 11 speculative housing developers together supplied around 40% of new homes built.… Read more...
Funds for LPAs
In the financial year 2025-26 the Government has agreed to provide Councils, as listed here, with support to manage financial pressures via its ‘Exceptional Financial Support (EFS)’ process. The cross-party group London Councils describes EFS as a “misnomer”, as increasing numbers of boroughs are relying on the emergency borrowing it facilitates and are burdened with further debts and servicing costs.
London Growth Plan
Developed by the Mayor of London and London Councils, the ‘London Growth Plan’, as detailed here, is described as a blueprint for turbocharging productivity in the capital. It aims to restore productivity growth to an average of two per cent a year over the next decade.
Home accessibility
Inclusion London and many other organisations wrote to the Government to seek action on the chronic shortage of accessible and affordable homes. They claim accessible homes will increase people’s choice and control, reduce dependency on care, lessen the risk of being hospitalised and overstaying beyond discharge dates. The NHS offers advice for housing options for older people.
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Design Planning Practice Guidance
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