Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 1
1
Acknowledged
Paragraph: 14
Stop-start national planning policy reform creates uncertainty and halts local plan progress.
Conclusion
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 to halt the progress of local plans in a number of local authority areas.
Government Response Summary
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.
Paragraph Reference:
14
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The Government’s proposed changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) were subject to a full public consultation that ran from December 2022 to March 2023. We are continuing to consider the responses to that consultation and intend to respond later in 2023. Historically, we have taken a targeted approach to evaluating planning reforms; and in line with the Department’s recently published Evaluation Strategy, we are continuing to take a proportionate approach, due to resource constraints and the feasibility and cost of evaluation activity. In making policy decisions the Government will continue to consider the potential impact of the changes, including equalities impacts, as well as the representations made in the consultation including on the potential effects of the proposals.