An overhaul of the planning system to enable all councils in England to meet new mandatory housing targets has been given a cautious welcome.
Announced by deputy prime minister Angela Rayner MP this week, it is part of the government’s post-election promise to build 1.5 million more homes by 2029.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said Ms Rayner had written to every council leader and chief executive in England making clear there is “not just a professional responsibility but a moral obligation to see more homes built” and promised to use her powers of intervention if necessary to force developments through.
The mandatory housing targets reverse the previous government’s decision last year to water them down.
The method used to calculate these targets will also be updated to require councils to “ensure homes are built in the right places and development is proportionate to the size of existing communities, while adding an extra level of ambition in the most unaffordable areas”.
Developing brownfield land will be the first step to achieve this. The reforms announced by the government make explicit the default answer to brownfield development should be “yes”, promoting housebuilding at greater densities in urban centres, like towns and cities.
To meet their targets, councils will have to consider grey and green belt land. However, in all cases, land safeguarded for environmental reasons will continue to be protected.
Land released in the green belt will be subject to the government’s ‘golden rules’, which make clear that development should deliver 50% affordable homes, increase access to green spaces and put the necessary infrastructure is in place, such as schools and GP surgeries.
The deputy prime minister said: “Our decisive reforms to the planning system correct the errors of the past and set us on our way to tackling the housing crisis, delivering 1.5 million homes for those who really need them.
“And something I am personally proud of, our new flexibilities for councils will boost the number of social and affordable homes and give working families a better route to a secure home.”
Sheldon Bosley Knight’s associate director and head of planning and architecture, Natasha Blackmore da Silva said: “I welcome the proposed increase in mandatory housing numbers in the consultation draft and the new calculation system. This should help to increase housing output in the immediate term which is an urgent need across the country.
“There are currently many local authorities that can’t meet their housing numbers due to green belt restrictions. The introduction of the grey belt will identify more sites which can be developed without having to undertake the long drawn out green belt review process each time.
“Consultation is ongoing until September, but I am hopeful these changes if adopted will ensure housing deficits for more authorities can be met.”
The government will respond to the consultation and publish National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) revisions before the end of the year, so policy changes can take effect as soon as possible.
