Recommendations & Conclusions
25 items
1
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Acknowledged
National planning policy has been characterised by stop-start reform over several years. This has regrettably resulted in uncertainty among local authorities and across the planning sector. Contrary to the Government’s objective of facilitating plan- making, the short-term effect of its announcement of proposed planning reforms (6 December 2022) has been …
Government response. The government acknowledges the consultation on proposed NPPF changes and is considering responses, stating they will continue to assess potential impacts, but does not specifically address the committee's concerns about uncertainty or halted local plan progress.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
2
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Not Addressed
The Government must see the merit in pausing plans for further reform, in order to allow for a period of stability in which reforms already introduced can be properly implemented, and any lessons from that implementation learned.
Government response. The government does not commit to pausing further reforms, stating it is still considering responses to the December 2022 NPPF consultation and will continue its targeted approach to evaluating reforms due to resource constraints.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
3
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Rejected
The Government has not been clear on the timetable for its many planning consultations and when its reforms will be implemented. Nor has the Government sufficiently evaluated the impact of its past NPPF changes to inform its current reform proposals. There is a strong case that the Department should conduct …
Government response. The government implicitly rejects the call for comprehensive impact assessments of past NPPF changes, citing resource constraints for its targeted and proportionate approach to evaluation, while stating it will continue to consider the potential impact of proposed changes.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
4
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted in Part
The Government should urgently conduct and publish impact assessments on all future NPPF changes. It should take a more strategic approach to future consultations, including publishing timelines for the implementation of its proposed reforms. (Paragraph 22) The national housing target
Government response. The government states it will continue to consider the potential impacts, including equalities, of NPPF changes, but indicates a targeted approach to evaluation due to resource constraints and does not commit to publishing all impact assessments or timelines for future …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
5
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Not Addressed
We support the principle of a plan-led system and are sympathetic to the Government’s wish to ensure more local authorities have up-to-date local plans. However, it is difficult to see how the Government will achieve its 300,000 net national housing target by the mid-2020s if local targets are only advisory. …
Government response. The government reaffirms its commitment to delivering 300,000 homes per year and the role of the standard method for local housing need, but does not provide evidence demonstrating how advisory local targets will directly lead to more housebuilding, as requested …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
6
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Not Addressed
We are sceptical of the Minister for Housing and Planning’s confidence that greater local plan coverage will result in more housebuilding. If there is no longer a requirement for up-to-date local plans to continually demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, and if housing targets in local plans are to be …
Government response. The government defends its housebuilding record and commitment to delivering 300,000 homes a year, referencing its standard method and commitment to Green Belt protection. However, it does not directly address the committee's specific scepticism regarding the effectiveness of advisory housing …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
7
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Not Addressed
In line with its previous commitment to us, the Government must publish its own comprehensive analysis, as part of its response to the December 2022 consultation, to demonstrate how the proposed changes to the NPPF will facilitate delivering 300,000 Reforms to national planning policy 37 net new homes per year, …
Government response. The government states it expects to publish its response to the consultation later in the autumn/year, implicitly delaying the committee's requested September 2023 deadline, but does not commit to publishing the comprehensive analysis or evidence base for how NPPF changes …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
8
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Not Addressed
In order to aid transparency and accountability for housing delivery, the Department must set and commit to annual housing targets that are in line with the Government’s commitment to deliver 300,000 net new homes per year by the mid-2020s and how this will be achieved.
Government response. The government reaffirms its commitment to delivering 1 million homes over the Parliament and working towards 300,000 homes annually. However, it does not commit to setting specific annual housing targets or detail how they will be achieved, instead referencing its …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
9
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Not Addressed
If the NPPF reforms, once they have been implemented, do result in a reduction in housebuilding, the Minister for Housing and Planning should write to us as soon as this becomes apparent, and should explain whether the Government intends to keep the national housing target by making further NPPF revisions, …
Government response. The government reaffirms its commitment to delivering 300,000 homes per year and protecting the Green Belt, but does not address the recommendation to write to the committee if NPPF reforms lead to a reduction in housebuilding or explain its future …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
10
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Rejected
We reiterate our previous recommendation from our report on the future of the planning system in England (2021) that the Government should set out the proportions of different types of tenure that will make up the 300,000 net new homes per year, in order to encourage local planning authorities to …
Government response. The government maintains that it is for local authorities to identify the size, type, and tenure of housing needed locally, and does not commit to setting national proportions or a specific target for social rent homes.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
11
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
The development of brownfield sites should be prioritised and incentivised, and green spaces in the Green Belt should be protected. However, brownfield sites alone cannot deliver 300,000 net new homes per year in the long-term. In particular, the greater upfront cost of brownfield development means there is less capacity to …
Government response. The government affirms its commitment to prioritizing brownfield development and protecting Green Belt land through existing national planning policy and financial support, stating that local authorities are not required to review Green Belt boundaries to meet housing needs.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
12
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Rejected
We reaffirm our previous recommendation from our report on the future of the planning system in England (2021) that a national review of the purpose of the Green Belt should assess the circumstances where brownfield sites within the Green Belt should be considered for development. Local Green Belt boundary reviews …
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation for a national review of the Green Belt, stating it has no such plans and is committed to protecting and enhancing the Green Belt, while promoting brownfield land use.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
13
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Acknowledged
The need for the urban uplift demonstrates that the standard method formula is not currently fit for purpose. The 35% urban uplift is an arbitrary figure, which is not calculated based on local housing need in the areas where it applies. We are disappointed that the Government has not yet …
Government response. The government defends the urban uplift by reiterating its rationale for directing homes to urban centers for regeneration and leveling up, and states they intend to review the approach to housing needs after 2021 Census data is released, but does …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
14
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Rejected
The Government should abolish the urban uplift when it reviews the standard method in 2024. Instead, a single standard method formula that accounts for local housing need and capacity should apply to all local authorities. The revised formula should be based on future local need, with a focus on regenerating …
Government response. The government rejects the recommendation to abolish the urban uplift, defending its purpose in directing homes to urban centers and supporting levelling up. It intends to review the standard method for assessing housing needs following the 2021 Census data but …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
15
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
The Government plans to abolish the Duty to Cooperate without clearly setting out what it will be replaced with. This is despite the Government having agreed with our recommendation in a previous report that the Duty to Cooperate should not be abolished without a clear understanding of how it will …
Government response. The government clarifies that cooperation between local planning authorities will remain, stating it intends to retain joint local plans and introduce new joint spatial development strategies. It confirms that existing legal duties, including the duty to cooperate, will still apply, …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
16
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted in Part
The Government should ensure that the new alignment policy requires local authorities to work together on housing delivery, or introduce other mechanisms to encourage regional cooperation between local authorities on housing delivery. The detail of the new alignment policy must be defined, consulted on, and a final policy published, before …
Government response. The government accepts the need for continued cooperation, stating the Duty to Cooperate will remain in place until June 2025, and intends to introduce new joint spatial development strategies and supplementary plans to encourage regional cooperation.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
17
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
There continues to be a pressing need for additional resources for local planning authorities to ensure the efficient working of the planning system and to implement the Government’s proposed reforms. The Government must ensure local planning authorities have the specialist skills required to implement proposed reforms. The programme of support …
Government response. The government acknowledges the serious capacity and capability challenges faced by local planning authorities and has committed £37.5 million in additional funding, including a £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund, to recruit, retain, and upskill planners, alongside increasing planning application …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
18
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
The Government should publish a comprehensive resources and skills strategy for the planning sector, in line with its commitment to us. The strategy should clearly explain how the resourcing and skill needs of local planning authorities will be met; and should be published before future reforms to national planning policy …
Government response. The government has committed £37.5 million, including a £24 million Planning Skills Delivery Fund, to help local authorities recruit, retain, and upskill planners. They are also implementing planning fee increases and conducting a survey to understand skill needs, addressing the …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
19
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Acknowledged
We share our predecessor Committee’s view that when considering new mechanisms for land value capture it is vital that the Government learns the right lessons from the past. If the Government is determined to implement the new Infrastructure Reforms to national planning policy 39 Levy over the course of ten …
Government response. The government acknowledges the need to ensure Infrastructure Levy reforms are successful, committing to further consultation, a "Test and Learn" approach, and parliamentary scrutiny to ensure the Levy achieves its aims and can be adjusted if needed.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
20
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Acknowledged
It is not clear that the new Infrastructure Levy (IL) as it is currently proposed will be swifter and simpler for local authorities to administer than the current CIL/Section 106 agreement regime. The potential for multidimensional charging schedules with many different rates in each local authority, as well as the …
Government response. The government acknowledges concerns about the complexity of the Infrastructure Levy, committing to further consultation, a 'Test and Learn' approach, and parliamentary reporting to ensure the reforms are effective and achieve their aims.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
21
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted in Part
Whilst piloting the new IL is a sensible approach, the Government must outline from the outset exactly how the ‘test and learn’ process will work and set out a limited timeline. The Government should make adjustments where appropriate as part of ‘test and learn’, to ensure that the new regime …
Government response. The government commits to further consultation and a "Test and Learn" approach for the Infrastructure Levy, stating that necessary changes can be made and further details on the process will be provided as policy design progresses, but does not specify …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
22
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Acknowledged
We welcome that the Government has tabled amendments to the Levelling-up and Regeneration Bill to strengthen the duty of local authorities to deliver at least as many affordable homes under the new IL as they do under the current system (rather than simply “have regard” for this). However, the proposed …
Government response. The government acknowledges the committee's concern regarding affordable housing delivery under the new Infrastructure Levy, committing to a "Test and Learn" approach and a parliamentary report to monitor the Levy's impact and allow for necessary adjustments.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
23
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted
If the new IL falls short of delivering sufficient funding for local authorities to deliver at least as many affordable homes as the current regime, then the Government should make adjustments where appropriate as part of ‘test and learn’. Failing this, the Government should consider other ways of providing funding …
Government response. The government commits to a "Test and Learn" approach and further consultation on the Infrastructure Levy, supported by a parliamentary report on its impact, which will allow for scrutiny and necessary adjustments to ensure it delivers sufficient funding and affordable …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
24
Conclusion
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Acknowledged
It is regrettable that the Government has still not provided sufficient detail on the content of National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) for stakeholders to fully understand the impact they will have on the planning system. While NDMPs may make the plan-making process more efficient for local authorities, they will also …
Government response. The government clarifies that National Development Management Policies will sit alongside local plans and be subject to public consultation before introduction, providing scrutiny, to ensure national policy protections apply without superseding the plan-led system.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
25
Recommendation
Seventh Report - Reforms to national pl…
Accepted in Part
Each draft NDMP should be subject to full and proper parliamentary scrutiny before coming into force. Any draft NDMP which would have the effect of superseding the plan-led system should be carefully considered in Parliament on a case-by-case basis. 40 Reforms to national planning policy The Government should table an …
Government response. The government states National Development Management Policies (NDMPs) will not supersede the plan-led system and will be subject to public consultation, allowing Parliamentarians to scrutinise them, but does not commit to making them subject to the same formal parliamentary requirements …
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government